THE REBUTTAL
Written by LANRE ATIBA
(Copyright (c) 2016 “The Rebuttal” This screenplay may not be used or reproduced for any purpose including
commercial or educational purposes without the expressed written permission of the author)
SYNOPSIS
Hassan is a member of the Lagos State House of Representatives, he finds
himself in a precarious situation when he becomes chairman of the special
house committee on Education and Youth development and stumbles upon a
discovery that could threaten the very foundation of the government. He is
faced with the hard decision to either right a wrong that can no longer be
overlooked or simply bow to superior forces beyond his control.
CAST
HASSAN HAMMED - HONORABLE MEMBER OF THE HOUSE
AISHA HAMMED - WIFE OF HASSAN
JASPER EDOK - CHIEF WHIP OF THE HOUSE
SHEHU KABIR - SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE
OYELOWO BABATUNDE - HASSAN‟S ATTORNEY
LAMIDI SONIBARE - THE STATE GOVERNOR
EXTRAS
DSS OPERATIVES
JUDGE
PRESSMEN, ACTIVISTS
SCENE 1 (PLENARY MEETING IN THE STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY)
Background music is on as the scene shows different honorable taking their
respective seats in the chambers, while some do a little chit chat. Camera
zooms to the House Speaker as he takes his place on the Speaker‟s seat and
calls the meeting to order.
Speaker: “Good morning honorables, please be seated (all take their
seats). Before we commence today‟s Agenda, I will like to open
the floor to give opportunity for the raising of any issue by
the honorable members of the house, if there be any.
There is a moment silence as it seems no one has any motions to raise,
then one breaks the silence
Honorable Hassan: “I would like to raise a motion Mr.Speaker”
Speaker: “the floor is yours Honorable”
Honorable Hassan: “As the house is aware, I have just been appointed
chairman of the house committee on education and youth
development by the honorable speaker of the house. In the course
of looking into past bills of the house on education I came
across an Education Endowment Fund law passed in 1989. The law
stipulates that the state under the directive of the Governor
set up an endowment fund also known as „the fund‟ where monies
may be raised through government grants, philanthropic
contributions and any other means the supervising board of this
fund account deemed fit. In total 271 public primary and
secondary schools are to be beneficiaries of this special fund
to aid infrastructural development and improvement in the
overall quality of education to students.
Speaker: “Can you arrive at the point honorable”
Honorable Hassan: “I will sir, on careful examination; I found that this
special fund has been serviced regularly since its inception
with monies deposited in the fund account opened with a
commercial bank since the pioneering administration. However
there seems to be no record of money disseminated to any of the
271 schools slated as beneficiaries of this fund for the current
administration. Considering the fact that provision for this
fund has been made in the state budget annually I find it
alarming that such money meant for sensitive purpose as
educational development can be allowed to float around
unaccounted for. I would like the honorable speaker of the house
to set up an investigative panel to look into the fund scheme
and establish proper connections to help us understand what
exactly is going on.
There is murmuring around the house as Hassan finishes his statement
Speaker: “Decorum please, honorable Hassan has moved to raise a
motion for an investigation into an Education Endowment
fund whose origin spans beyond the formation of the current
house of legislators. What says the house, the I‟s? the
Nays?
The house members carry out a simple vote by lifting their hands in
support of either I or Nay.
“The I‟s have it, a special committee will be set up to
launch an inquiry into the endowment fund to ascertain the
appropriation of funds allocated to said scheme over the
course of the current administration”
The scene fades out
SCENE 2 ( INSIDE HONORABLE HASSAN‟S VEHICLE)
Honorable Jasper: “You are a detailed man Hassan”
Honorable Hassan: “I‟d like to think so myself”
Honorable Jasper: “indeed you are, I mean, how else can one explain
digging up a bill that has been running unnoticed for 26
years”
Honorable Hassan: “Unnoticed? Nothing goes unnoticed in government,
someone always know something, besides documentation only
falters for the current administration”
Honorable Jasper: „You think we could discover a scandal on this
matter?”
Honorable Hassan: “I think… it is too soon to fear the worst, let us
hope that a logical explanation comes to the fore after the
special committee is done with its inquiry”
Honorable Jasper: “Of course O noble honorable”
They both laugh as the scene comes to a close
SCENE 3 (HONORABLE HASSAN‟S HOME)
Hassan walks into his sitting room with his wife and two children at the
dinner table, the two kids rush to give him a hug
Kids; “welcome daddy”
Hassan: “My Loves, how are you”
Kids: “fine daddy”
Hassan: “that‟s good, hurry and finish your food now,”
The kids run back to the dining table to continue their meal
Aisha Hammed: “welcome dear” (seated at the table as Hassan walks over to
plant a kiss on her forehead)
Hassan: “My love how was your day?”
Aisha: “Uneventful”
Hassan: “Ahah, that makes the both of us” (he takes a sit at the
opposite end of his wife)
Aisha: “We both know that is a lie, you have become something of a
celebrity in the public eye recently” (Aisha passes him a
newspaper with a front page headline that reads
HONORABLE HAMMED HASSAN OPENING A CAN OF WORMS?
Hassan: “What is this?” looking slightly alarmed
Aisha: “The press being the press”
Hassan: “well have you read it?”
Aisha: “Of course”
Hassan: “and?”
Aisha: “you are my husband, I married you because in all my life I have
found no man more honorable than you. I only plead with you to
approach your new role in the house with caution.”
Hassan: “caution… what are you talking about?‟
Aisha: “you have a wife and two kids who believe their father is
everything, your next steps at the house of assembly will be
very crucial, have us in mind when you take them”
Hassan; “Dear, I don‟t underst…”
Aisha: “should I bring your dinner now”
Hassan: (gives a sigh of exasperation) “… yes please”
The scene fades out as Aisha gets up and leaves for the kitchen
SCENE 4 (Inside The Speaker of the state house of assembly office)
There is a knock on the Speaker‟s door
Shehu Kabir: “come in” (Honorable Hassan walks in) “oh Honorable Hassan,
please take a seat (he motions to the chair opposite him)
Hassan: “Thank you Mr. Speaker”
Shehu Kabir: “How are the wife and family?”
Hassan: “Very well thank you”
Shehu Kabir: “oh its nothing, the welfare and state of well being of my
house members and their families is of paramount importance to
me”
Hassan: “that‟s wonderful to know sir”
Shehu Kabir: “Please leave the sir out of it honorable, we are
contemporaries merely separated by ceremonial title” (gives a
nervy laughter)
Hassan: “alright then”
Shehu Kabir: “so, how do you see your new role as chairman of a house
committee?”
Hassan: “demanding, but its all part of the job, just doing my best
to perform to expectation”
Shehu Kabir: “Excellent, that‟s excellent…beautiful, that‟s good to
hear”
Hassan: “Yes”
Shehu Kabir: “uhm… is there anything you need honorable, anything that
requires urgent attention, something I can be of help to you?”
Hassan: “Not exactly, apart from the economic struggle to build a better
life for one‟s family, there‟s nothing overly pressing right
now”
Shehu Kabir: “I see, that‟s good… peace of mind is the best thing a man
can have (gives a nervous laughter)
Hassan: “As God will have it {wallah sawf yakun dhlk}, you summoned me
Mr. Speaker, is there a problem?”
Shehu Kabir: “Problem? Hopefully not”
Hassan: “oh good, so why did you summon me?”
Shehu Kabir: “Hassan, you are a young accomplished politician, I have
watched your career soar over a very short space of time, and I
am truly happy for you”
Hassan: “Thank you very much, Allah has been most merciful”
Shehu Kabir: “yes, however it would be a shame to see such a glittering
career bite the dust prematurely”
Hassan: “I‟m afraid you‟ve lost me at this point, bite the dust?”
(Looking slightly alarmed)
Shehu Kabir: “your inquiry into the Endowment fund, I‟d advise you to
forget about it”
Hassan: (Dazed by the sharp change in contrast of the conversation) “I,
I don‟t understand”
Shehu Kabir: “we are going to proceed with the next plenary meeting and
pretend the motion you raised never existed. You will do well to
follow suit and not bring it up”
Hassan: “Mr Speaker… (deep in thought)
Shehu Kabir: “I have given you a mere friendly advice; you don‟t have to
look so dumbstruck”
Hassan: “I see… well thank you for the advice Mr Speaker, I will take it
into advisement”
Shehu Kabir: “I‟m sure you‟ll do the right thing”
Hassan: “I‟m sure I will”
Shehu Kabiri: “Beautiful! Thank you for coming in”
Hassan: “Of course” (he gets up and leaves the office”
SCENE 5 (AT THEAMUSEMENT PARK)
The kids are at a distance playing in the park while Hassan and Aisha sit
together watching on
Aisha: “kids, so free and happy, without a care in the world”
Hassan: (laughs) “well that‟s because they are in their world now, and
theirs‟ is much different from ours”
Aisha: “don‟t you ever wonder, what changes? How do we get here?”
Hassan: “that‟s the mystery of life, isn‟t it?”
Hassan‟s phone beeps to signify the entry of a text message
Aisha: “Your phone”
Hassan: “yeah, got it ( he pauses with a look of bewilderment as he
reads the message)
Aisha: “Honey, what is it?”
Hassan stares on without replying, Aisha makes to read the text and is also
taken aback by its content
YOU HAVE SUCH A BEAUTIFUL FAMILY HONORABLE, WOULD BE A SHAME IF SOMETHING HAPPENED
TO THEM
“What is this? Honey who sent this?”
Hassan: “I don‟t know, the number is custom”
Aisha: “The kids! (She begins to call out for her two children far off)
Just then a second texts comes in
Hassan: “Aisha… (Still looking at the phone with trepidation)
Aisha: (bends over to look at the phone and screams upon reading the
text”
IBRAHIM SEEMS TO LIKE THE SWINGS A LOT, HEHE!
Hassan: “listen to me, act natural, we are being watched. Walk over to
the kids and bring them as calm as you can, we need to get out
of here”
Aisha: (nods her head hastily as she hurries off to get the kids
SCENE 6 (HONORABLE JASPER‟S LIVING ROOM)
Hassan: “Jasper, there is fire on the mountain, what I‟m I saying; there
is fire on my mountain!”
Jasper: “calm down Ol boy, what has got you all antsy?”
Hassan: “The endowment fund I probed, I think someone wants the case
buried and they are going to any length to get their wish”
Jasper: “what‟s going on?”
Hassan: “I‟m receiving death threats Jasper, my wife, my kids can‟t go
to school. Everyone in my home is being threatened!”
Jasper: “wow, that‟s serious, have you filed a report at the police”
Hassan: “they are sitting ducks on the matter; they can‟t make any moves
since the threats are anonymous”
Jasper: “Too bad… I warned you”
Hassan: “What?”
Jasper: “when you were appointed chairman of the committee, it wasn‟t
for you to go all defender of the Universe and start digging up
stuff; you should have just played your role”
Hassan: “My role? What are you talking about?”
Jasper: “what a shame, you really are a fish out of water; you‟re way in
over your head on this one Hassan. Do the right thing”
Hassan; “If I didn‟t know better, I‟d say I detect a trace of Shehu in
your tone”
Jasper: “I bear no resemblance to the house Speaker Hassan, I‟m merely
speaking as a friend who wishes to save you the trouble you are
clearly headed for if you don‟t fall in line”
Hassan: “wow, I see, honorable Jasper Edok, the chief whip who wants me
to fall in line with his corrupt caucus. How foolish I am to
jump from frying pan to fire”
Jasper: “Quit the melodrama old friend”
Hassan: “We are not friends, not anymore” (walks out)
Jasper: “Hassan…Hassan!”
SCENE 7 (THE STATE HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY)
Hassan is met with DSS operatives as he attempts to get into his office
DSS Operative: “Honorable Hassan Hammed”
Hassan: “Yes”
DSS Operative: “You have been invited for questioning at the ICPC”
Hassan: “What? For what reasons?”
DSS Operative: “we are under instruction to bring you to the commission
under allegations of gross misuse of office and reckless
handling of sensitive House information”
Hassan: “this has to be a joke, you must be joking… please get out of my
way and allow me access to my office”
DSS Operative: “I‟m afraid you cannot go in there sir, you are currently
under investigation, and your office is out of bounds to prevent
tampering of evidence”
Hassan: “I am under investigation for what? For what? Who placed me
under investigation? ( his yelling beginning to cause a scene)
DSS Operative: “Please sir if you will kindly follow us”
Hassan: “I am not following you anywhere, who do you think you are? You
think you can just whisk me away like a ram for the slaughter. I
know what you are all up to, you corrupt officials. You want to
discredit me by rubbing me in the dirt”
DSS Operative: (brings out a piece of paper and serves it to Hassan) “this
is a warrant for your arrest, you either follow us quietly or we
take you against your will,one way or the other you are coming
with us to the commission”
Hassan; “and I should be swayed by the piece of forged paper, over my
dead body before I follow you crooked officers out of here. I‟d
rather…”
DSS Operative: “officer! Place him in cuffs, you have resisted arrest and
slandered federal security agents, hence you will face
additional charges in court, move!”
Hassan is cuffed and dragged out of the scene as he continues to yell
SCENE 8 (IN HOLDING CELL)
Aisha hurries in to meet Hassan and they communicate separated by iron bars
Aisha: “Hassan, I came as soon as I heard”
Hassan: “it‟s ok”
Aisha: “what is going on?”
Hassan: “I‟m being accused of being an informant to the press”
Aisha: “what? How?”
Hassan: “I‟m as bewildered as you are”
Aisha: “well no matter, I have brought an attorney friend to deal with
whatever the case is, honey this is Barrister Babatunde Oyelowo,
he is a SAN and he has promised to help”
Oyelowo: “hello honorable, I have gotten some preliminary updates on the
genesis of this issue and I am inclined to suspect a hint of
foul play and sabotage. But not to worry, we will soon spring up
a surprise of our own, they won‟t see it coming”
Hassan: “they have released falsified documents in the guise that I fed
the press constantly with them as an informant. They are moving
for exclusion so that I may be suspended and my testimony
rendered non trustworthy”
Oyelowo: “Honorable when you say „they‟ who exactly are you referring
to?”
Hassan: “that I can‟t say exactly, but I‟m certain the House speaker and
Chief whip are involved, maybe some other principal officers of
the house as well but I can‟t tell”
Oyelowo: “Good, we will start by investigating the roles of these two in
your current predicament. I am aware that this is an offshoot of
your probe into the 1989 endowment fund”
Hassan: “yes, you can say that”
Oyelowo: “has the governor attempted to reach you”
Hassan: “I don‟t think so, you think I should contact him?”
Oyelowo: “Yes, if anyone can settle this quickly, its‟ him”
Aisha: “don‟t worry hun, we‟re going to get you out of her as fast as
possible. They are proving difficult with the bail requirements
but they can‟t keep you here longer than today, I promise”
Hassan: “it‟s ok love, do what you have to do”
Oyelowo: “I assure you honorable, this will not go their way”
Hassan: “Thank you very much Barrister, I‟m grateful”
SCENE 9 (IN DOOR MEETING WITH OYELOWO AND PRESSMEN AND ACTIVISTS)
MONOLOGUE
Oyelowo: “Hammed Hassan is a legislator with the state house of Assembly;
three months ago he was arrested on trumped charges of
conspiracy to betray the house by the House leadership. However
we now know that was a desperate attempt to discredit the
honorable and prevent him from discovering the truth about the
1989 Education Endowment bill of which 217 state public schools
were to be beneficiaries. A total of 615 million naira is set
aside for the endowment fund per annual budget, that makes a
rough sum of 3 billion unaccounted for by the present
administration and the House Leadership will have us remain in
the dark on what has become of this fund.
Ladies and Gentlemen I have invited you all, pressmen, human
rights activists, publicists, lawyers in here today because we
have to right a wrong in our society, where the innocent carries
the sentence of the guilty. Hassan stood to fight for our
children, for our society and now we must fight for him!
(Everyone in the room nods in agreement and let out rapturous
cheers)
SCENE 10 (THE GOVERNOR‟S OFFICE)
Governor Lamidi: “The man that refused to bow??” what is this! (he throws
the daily carrying the headline)
Shehu: “your Excellency, this is merely a weak attempt to gather
public empathy by inciting public opinion, he will fade
away soon enough”
Governor Lamidi: “soon enough? How soon is soon enough?”
Jasper: “Your Excellency, Hassan is powerless; he has been
languishing in cell for the better part of the last four
months with no possible way out. I assure you, we are in
control”
Governor Lamidi: “you better be, when a man that is in jail begins to make
the front covers, you have to wonder who really is in
control”
Shehu: “Governor, Hassan will be neutralized soonest, plans are
already in motion. I guarantee he will no longer a problem
for us”
Governor Lamidi: “Have I not heard that before, when I asked you to change
the last one that gave us problems, I expected you to do
just that, not put an even greater problem on our necks”
Hassan: “I accept the fault Your Excellency, Hassan was an
unassuming man, I couldn‟t have possibly known he would
become such a thorn in the flesh.
Governor Lamidi: “Well find a way to cut this thorn off, before it pierces
too deep”
(Scene Fades away)
SCENE 11 (HASSAN‟S HOLDING CELL)
Free Hammed Hassan campaign goes viral all over social media and
newspapers…the public call for respite for the embattled
Law maker.
(At Hassan‟s holding cell, Aisha and Oyelowo are together with him)
Aisha: “They‟re calling you the man that refused to bow”
Oyelowo: “we have been able to incite public empathy, the Judge will
hear your case, they won‟t be able to hold you down here
much longer”
Hassan: “I am grateful to you Barrister, you have fought for me
without benefit, may God reward you”
Oyelowo: “you gave us all reason to fight honorable, this is down to
your determination to do the right thing”
SCENE 12 “COURT HEARING”
Prosecutor: “There is substantial evidence to prove that the defendant
leaked sensitive house documents under his control to
certain press members providing them illicit access to
legislation matters that were yet to be decided by the
house. Hence he is guilty of gross misconduct and misuse of
office and should be immediately suspended and tried”
Oyelowo: “Gross misconduct and misuse of office… hmmn, how about we
add fraud, misappropriation of funds and money laundering
to that and charge it to the Claimant. (Murmurs grow within
the courtroom)
Prosecution: “Objection!”
Judge: “Counsel”
Oyelowo: “You honor I have evidence to prove that my client is
innocent of all bogus charges against him and in fact it is
the claimant which basically is the state house of assembly
leadership that is guilty of this trumped up charges and
more!”
(The murmuring goes even louder)
Judge: “Order! Order!, Order in my court!!”
Oyelowo: “and that is not all your honor, I have an in house witness
willing to testify!”
Judge: “and who is your witness defense counel?”
Oyelowo: “Mr Gbadamosi Otunuga!, House clerk of the state house of
assembly!”
(The court bursts into rapturous cheers as the momentum swings
to the defense favor)
SCENE 13 (THE LAW COURT)
Both counsels have argued there case over a six week period and the Judge
is about to make a ruling)
Judge: “having carefully cross examined the arguments from both counsel
and weighed in on the testimonies and evidences presented before
the court on the subject matter of a suit filed by the claimant
which stands by way of the leadership of the State house of
assembly against the defendant honorable Hammed Hassan on
allegations of gross misconduct and misuse of office, I find the
defendant, not guilty (a thunderous cheers rings around the
court), however following the revelation of substantial evidence
bordering on fraud, money laundering and misappropriation of
fund, this court finds sufficient reason to investigate further
the counter allegation of the defense counsel and moves the suit
against the Speaker of the house, Deputy
speaker, Chief whip and Governor to Trial. Honorable hammed
Hassan is hereby discharged with immediate effect and
acquainted.
The cheers are deafening, Aisha jumps for joy as she hugs her husband with
the kids, Oyelowo gives him a pat on the back.
Oyelowo: “Well done sir, you have won a vital victory today, but the war
has only just begun”
Hassan: “with men like you, I‟m certain the war is but won already”
The scene pans out with congratulatory jeers around the court room
THE END