A High Court of Lagos State on Monday, October 9, 2023, sentenced to death by hanging, the suspended the Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Drambi Vandi, who shot and killed a Lagos based female Lawyer, Late Mrs Omobolanle Raheem on December 25, 2022 being Christmas.
The Court presided over by Justice Ibironke Harrison held that the defence of ASP Vandi that he did not shoot the deceased has no leg to stand on.
The Court which sat at the Tafawa Balewa Square annex division of the Lagos state High Court found the police officer guilty on the strength of the witnesses of the prosecution, who Justice Harrison held gave an overwhelming evidence that the loud gunshot was from his loaded gun.
ASP Vandi was arraigned on January 16, 2023 on a charge of murder for which he pleaded not guilty.
The case for which the Lagos State Government said that the defendant, ASP Vendi shot Mrs Raheem in the chest on December 25, 2023, at Ajah Roundabout on Lekki-Expressway, was given an accelerated hearing.
The prosecution team led by the former Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice of Lagos State, Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, told the Court that the crime contravened Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The prosecution called a total of 11 witnesses that included eight police officers before it closed its case on February, 25, 2023.
Similarly, the defendant on February 28,2023 through his counsel, Gbenro Gbadamosi, filed an application, urging the court to quash the charge against him.
However, on April 3, 2023, the court dismissed the no-case submission of the defendant.
Ruling on the matter, Justice Harrison held that the prosecution established sufficient oral and documentary evidence linking ASP Vendi to the alleged crime, which required explanation from him.
Accordingly, the defendant on May 31, 2023 gave evidence and closed his case which made the court to fix July 13, 2023 as judgment date after the adoption of final written addresses by counsels in the case.
