🎠THE REPUBLIC OF SILENCE
A Political Courtroom Drama by Dayo Adesulu
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SYNOPSIS
In the fictional Republic of Zandia — a mirror of modern Nigeria — justice has become a marketplace, and truth is now contraband.
Omar Saye, a fearless journalist, activist, and former presidential aspirant, is arrested after organizing a peaceful protest exposing government corruption. The state accuses him of “inciting unrest,” but the real crime is his refusal to be silent.
Inside the courtroom, justice becomes theatre. Judges trade conscience for comfort, lawyers speak in whispers, and adjournments multiply like lies. Yet, even in handcuffs, Omar’s words spark a movement that no gavel can silence.
The play unfolds through seven tense scenes — ending not with a verdict, but with yet another adjournment, symbolizing a nation where justice sleeps while power speaks.
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DRAMATIS PERSONAE
Omar Saye – Human rights activist, journalist, and former presidential aspirant. A man of fire and faith.
Barrister Ayo Falade – Omar’s defense lawyer. Bold but weary; a believer in law, struggling in a land where it no longer works.
Justice Garuba – Federal High Court judge. Torn between conscience and the political weight pressing on his bench.
Prosecutor Madu – Government lawyer; loyal to power, not principle.
Captain Dogo – DSS officer, proud and brutal. A man who obeys before thinking.
Adaora Saye – Omar’s wife. Quiet strength; her calm words pierce deeper than speeches.
Reporters, Protesters, and Court Attendants – The voice of the people, murmuring truth in the margins of the system.
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SCENE ONE – The Arrest
Setting: Streets of the capital city, early morning.
A small protest moves toward the Ministry of Justice. Placards read “We Want Truth, Not Excuses!” and “Justice Must Work in Zandia!”
(Enter OMAR SAYE, holding a megaphone.)
OMAR: My people! They call it democracy, but when you speak, they call it treason! They say we are disturbing the peace — but peace without justice is a graveyard!
(Cheers from protesters. Sirens wail. Enter CAPTAIN DOGO and armed officers.)
CAPTAIN DOGO: Disperse immediately! You’re violating the public order act!
OMAR: Which order? The one that protects thieves or the one that jails citizens?
CAPTAIN DOGO: Arrest him!
(Officers grab Omar roughly. Reporters rush forward, cameras flashing.)
OMAR (shouting): Record it! Let the world see how fear dresses in uniform!
(He’s dragged away as protesters chant “Freedom! Freedom!” The siren fades into silence.)
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SCENE TWO – The First Hearing
Setting: Federal High Court, Zandia. Afternoon.
The courtroom is full. Reporters whisper. A banner outside reads “Justice for Omar Saye.”
JUSTICE GARUBA: Case number 0247 — The State vs. Omar Saye.
PROSECUTOR MADU: My Lord, the accused is charged with inciting public disturbance, attempting to overthrow constitutional authority, and spreading falsehoods to destabilize the Republic.
FALADE: My Lord, those charges are poetry, not law. The constitution allows peaceful protest. The only disturbance here is the government’s conscience.
MADU: My Lord, the accused organized an illegal rally without police permit.
FALADE: My Lord, since when did freedom of speech require a receipt?
(Laughter ripples through the court. Justice Garuba bangs his gavel.)
JUSTICE GARUBA: Order! Order!
(He sighs, lowers his voice.)
Mr. Madu, do you have your witnesses?
MADU: My Lord, the DSS officer in charge — Captain Dogo — is unavoidably absent.
FALADE: Again? This is déjà vu with a uniform.
JUSTICE GARUBA: Then the matter is adjourned till next month.
OMAR (quietly, to Falade): They are not delaying justice, my brother. They are waiting for me to break.
FALADE: Don’t. That’s what they want.
(Court murmurs. Judge exits. Reporters crowd around Omar as officers lead him away.)
REPORTER: Mr. Saye, any comment?
OMAR (smiles faintly): Yes. Tell them — the truth just got another adjournment.
SCENE THREE – The Media Blackout
Setting: Small newsroom, later that night.
Three journalists sit around an old laptop, the room lit by a generator’s hum.
JOURNALIST 1: The story’s gone. They pulled it down from the national station’s website.
JOURNALIST 2: The editor says “orders from above.”
JOURNALIST 3: So truth now needs approval before printing?
JOURNALIST 1: The Minister called it “a sensitive national matter.”
(Door bursts open — ADAORA, Omar’s wife, enters.)
ADAORA: If you people don’t report it, who will? They’ve kept him in DSS custody for three weeks now — no visit, no sunlight!
JOURNALIST 3: Madam Adaora, we want to, but they’ve warned every media house.
ADAORA (firmly): Then start an underground one. When the media becomes mute, rumor becomes gospel.
(They look at her — inspired, uncertain.)
JOURNALIST 2: What will you call it?
ADAORA: The Republic of Silence.
(They exchange glances. A new idea is born — not a newspaper, but a movement.)
Next scenes (4–7) will include:
Scene 4: “The Beating” (a symbolic cell scene revealing how power fears truth)
Scene 5: “The Adjournment Spiral” (justice becomes a joke)
Scene 6: “The Protest” (citizens rise in defiance)
Scene 7: “The Verdict That Never Came” (the haunting adjournment ending)
SCENE FOUR – The Beating
Setting: A dim DSS detention cell.
One flickering bulb. The sound of rain. Omar sits on the floor, blood on his shirt. CAPTAIN DOGO stands before him.
CAPTAIN DOGO: You think shouting “freedom” makes you a hero?
OMAR: No. It makes me human.
CAPTAIN DOGO: You insult the President, the Senate, the system—
OMAR: I describe them. If that feels like insult, maybe truth burns.
(Dogo slaps him hard. Omar falls but keeps talking.)
OMAR: You can beat my body, Captain. But can you arrest my conscience?
CAPTAIN DOGO: We’ll break you.
OMAR (calmly): Then fix the country while you’re at it.
(Silence. Dogo breathes heavily, confused by Omar’s calm.)
CAPTAIN DOGO (gruffly): Take him back. He has court tomorrow.
(Two officers drag Omar away. Dogo watches, then mutters to himself.)
CAPTAIN DOGO: One day, this uniform go tire me.
(Lights fade.)
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SCENE FIVE – The Adjournment Spiral
Setting: Federal High Court, next morning.
Crowded courtroom, murmurs of journalists and onlookers. Justice Garuba looks weary.
JUSTICE GARUBA: Mr. Madu, have your witnesses appeared this time?
MADU: My Lord, the DSS officer has been reassigned to another operation.
FALADE (sighing): Another adjournment in the name of “national security.” My Lord, justice delayed has now become justice denied.
JUSTICE GARUBA (quietly): Barrister Falade, this bench too has masters.
FALADE: Then may God help your conscience, My Lord.
(Tense silence.)
JUSTICE GARUBA: The case is adjourned—
OMAR (suddenly): —Indefinitely? Like every other case that threatens the powerful?
(Murmurs ripple. The judge freezes.)
JUSTICE GARUBA (shaking): Mr. Saye, you are in contempt of court!
OMAR: And this court is in contempt of justice!
(Gasps. Reporters scribble. Dogo glares from the back. Judge pounds the gavel repeatedly.)
JUSTICE GARUBA: Take him away!
(Omar is dragged out, but his voice echoes as he goes.)
OMAR (offstage): When the law becomes a weapon, the people will become the lawyers!
(Crowd erupts. Fade to black.)
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SCENE SIX – The Protest
Setting: Outside the courthouse. Evening.
Hundreds gather, chanting “Free Omar! Free Truth!” Reporters film. Adaora stands on a makeshift stage.
ADAORA: They can adjourn a case — not a conscience! Omar is one man, but his voice carries us all!
PROTESTER: Madam Adaora, they said the government banned all gatherings!
ADAORA: Then let them arrest the wind — it’s also gathering!
(Cheers. Journalists swarm. Suddenly, police fire tear gas. Chaos erupts.)
JOURNALIST 1 (shouting): Record everything! Let the Republic of Silence speak for itself!
(Scene ends in choking smoke, screams, and the echo of chants: “Freedom! Freedom!”)
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SCENE SEVEN – The Verdict That Never Came
Setting: Federal High Court, one month later.
The courtroom is almost empty. Justice Garuba enters slowly, robes dragging.
CLERK: My Lord, the defendant’s lawyer and family are waiting.
JUSTICE GARUBA: I know. Has the government sent the new evidence they promised?
CLERK: No, My Lord. Only another letter. “Matter under review.”
(Judge opens the letter, reads silently, then looks up.)
JUSTICE GARUBA (whispers): “Adjourned indefinitely.”
(Falade and Adaora enter quietly.)
FALADE: My Lord, my client has been in detention for six months. Are we still a nation of laws?
JUSTICE GARUBA: Barrister Falade… between justice and survival, which would you choose?
FALADE: Justice, My Lord. Because survival without it is slavery.
(Long silence. Judge removes his wig, places it on the table.)
JUSTICE GARUBA (softly): Then may God forgive me. Case adjourned indefinitely.
(He walks out. Falade lowers his head. Adaora looks to the gallery, tears in her eyes.)
ADAORA (to the audience): They have silenced one man — but not a nation. The Republic of Silence lives in us.
(Lights dim. A distant chant rises: “Freedom! Freedom!” — fading into the heartbeat of drums.)
— CURTAIN —
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🎠AUTHOR’S NOTE — Dayo Adesulu
“The Republic of Silence” is inspired by real events and ongoing struggles within the Nigerian justice system — a reflection of courage in a country where truth is often tried in the dock.
It is dedicated to every voice that spoke truth and paid the price.
