Divorcing Tony…

AARON ANSAH-AGYEMAN

DIVORCING TONY

EPISODE 6

The case became huge, to put it mildly.

The many viral videos of Tony Siaw – that horrible ingrate – in bed with a big-breasted prostitute on his matrimonial bed, had helped to fuel the anger of the right-thinking people of the nation and beyond, and they all wanted to see that horrible man brought to his knees.

Another factor was that Liz Baidoo was a screen princess, a woman adored and worshipped as much for her talent as her beauty across the African continent. For more than a decade, people had been a bit angry with Tony Siaw for snatching up that beautiful woman whom, to all intents and purposes, should have been married to some filthy-rich oil tycoon and not a man like Tony Siaw who was just an IT expert in a nondescript company.

As it were, many men of influence were already extending their support for Liz in so many ways in anticipation of fighting for her love and wrestling her from Frank Nsiah.

The truth was simple: many men wanted to sleep with Liz.

Even though she had been married, many had not stopped pursuing her, although she had remained faithful to her husband; now, there was a split in that armour, and everybody wanted to struggle to enter.

These were factors that made the case explode across the continent, coupled with the fact that the hearing was going to be made public because it was one of the cases selected by the judiciary committee to bring court proceedings closer to the people.

Many local television stations were carrying it live. It was live from the website of the Judicial Service and most television and radio stations.

And it was carried beyond the borders of Ghana to other African countries where interest was keen.

The main hall of the court was even repainted and the furniture beefed up and some replaced, making it shine as if with anticipation of what was to come.

And when the day finally arrived, every available space in the room was occupied. It had been demarcated for public, media and VIP, and all three sections were filled to the rafters.

The calibre of VIP that showed up – mostly male – was quite formidable.

The judge had demanded for two witness boxes facing each other, and had made them fitted with microphones wired to powerful speakers across the room to make speeches clear and without ambiguities.

Liz’s family and friends were in the front row on the right behind Liz and her lawyer. Liz Baidoo was looking resplendent in a stunning white and black dress designed by one of the talented designers in the country.

Tony, always a loner and a man without much friends, was supported primarily by his father and step-mother, and both of them looked cowed by the unfriendly atmosphere in the courtroom.

Tony was in black jeans, black sneakers with white soles, and a white T-shirt. He sat alone behind the table in front of him. Although boos, insults and a few paper objects had been hurled at him when he made his entrance, his expression had been as stoic as ever.

He leaned back in his seat and put his head back on the chair and closed his eyes.

He stood up when the judge entered, and then sat down and leaned his head back again as the case was called and the initial court procedures began.

However, when Judge Ivy Asante Darteh cleared her throat finally and began to speak, he opened his eyes and sat up in his chair.

The court welcomed everybody and proceeded to inform them that under normal circumstances, the case would have been held privately, as was required of divorce cases, but due to the festivities of the Judicial Service, the case was being made public to bring divorce proceedings to the public.

She went on to speak briefly about the case before her, and told the participants to comport themselves and do as she directed because she was in charge.

“I must also add that to grant divorce or separation, or encourage reconciliation, is my sole privilege once this case has been brought to me,” she continued. “I must make that very clear from the beginning because of the two young children involved here. Furthermore, I will be looking out for the interest of the children, and my decisions would primarily be based on what is good for them. I hope that is understood.”

“Well understood, Your Honour,” Hassan Moshi said into the microphone.

The judge then turned to Tony Siaw.

“Mr. Siaw, is that understood?” she asked calmly.

Tony looked at her for almost thirty seconds before speaking.

“Divorce shouldn’t be at your sole prerogative,” he said calmly. “I don’t think it is right.”

“I beg your pardon?” the judge asked sharply as a great murmur of anger rippled through the court from the spectators. She rapped her gavel sharply to instil silence, and then she looked at Tony. “Come again, Mr. Siaw.”

“You’ve kept my kids from me for almost three weeks now!” Tony said, his voice unhappy. “There’s nothing to salvage here, Your Honour. This marriage is done. Just grant the divorce and let me have my children.”

This time the judge had to rap several times before the angry hubbub of voices in the courtroom could be stilled.

“Mr. Tony Siaw,” she said with a sigh. “The Law does not work on your whims and exasperations. There is a laid procedure, and we are going to follow it, whether you like it or not. And if I were you, I’ll pay particular attention to what I say because your ability to be with your children hinges very closely on the attitude you show me in this courtroom. Do remember that!”

She saw how hard Tony was staring at her, almost defiantly, and she stared right back without dropping her gaze. Liz had also turned her head and was staring at Tony.

Madam Oforiwaa, Tony’s stepmother, reached across and squeezed Tony’s shoulder gently, and this seemed to make Tony get over his evident distress, and relaxed.

After a few more clarifications and setting of precedence, Hassan Moshi was asked to proceed.

“Since Mr. Siaw is representing himself, I want him to also be in the dock,” Judge Ivy Asante Darteh said. “Mr. Siaw, any time during this discourse, if you feel like asking a question, making a clarification, or any other comment, simply draw my attention by pressing that buzzer on the right.”

Liz was helped into the dock by her lawyer, and Tony Siaw also took the other dock.

Now, facing each other, Liz looked at him, and the implication hit her very strongly. How had they come to this?

When she had seen him in the bus, till that final day when she had found him in bed with a prostitute, nothing had prepared her for this moment! She had loved this man, and had tried to make it work through the tumultuous years, the moments of strife, and the storms!

And now this!

After here, they would no longer be together!

Dear Lord, she had even hit him in fury a week ago, something she would never have believed possible even if an angel had prophesied it.

Tears shimmered in her eyes as she looked at him, her pain intensified because, even now, he was refusing to look at her.

Why, Tony? Why did you do this? How can you be this cold-hearted? How could I be so wrong about you? Why, Tony, why?

Her heart was in a turmoil as a court orderly stepped forward and asked whether she would like to be sworn in on the Bible or Quran.

“Bible,” she whispered absent-mindedly.

She was sworn in, and then the orderly moved to Tony’s dock and repeated the same question.

“I don’t need to be sworn in,” Tony said.

“Mr. Tony Siaw!” Judge Ivy Asante said sternly now. “You’re really beginning to get on my bad side. You will be sworn in, do you understand?”

“Why?” Tony asked with a puzzled look. “Your Honour, just grant the divorce and let’s get over with this! I do not relish this. Just want my children!”

“If the attitude you’ve shown so far, each time I have met you, is anything to go by, then I can indeed judge right now and make sure that you never see your children again!” the judge said sternly. “Is that what you want, Mr. Siaw? If you refuse to be sworn in, I’ll grant this divorce and give total custody to Liz Baidoo, sir, because I can’t give custody of children to a man who doesn’t respect the basic requirement of law. Do you understand?”

Tony glared at the judge for a long time, and then finally he looked at the court orderly.

“Bible,” he said.

There were angry retorts in the court. Insults were rained on him, causing the judge to hammer her gavel several times.

“Swear him in,” she said.

Finally, Tony Siaw was sworn in.

Hassan Moshi cleared his throat and began to lead Liz Baidoo in testimony.

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DIVORCING TONY :: CHAPTER 5

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