Justice Ibironke Harrison of a Lagos State High Court sitting at the Tafawa Belewa Square annex has found an Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP Drambi Vandi, guilty of murder and sentenced him to death by hanging for killing lawyer, Barrister Bolanle Raheem.
Vandi had shot Mrs Raheem dead in the presence of her husband while returning from church on Christmas Day December 25, 2022 at a Police checkpoint in Lagos.
Delivering judgment on Monday, October 9, the court found the suspended Police Officer guilty of the Christmas Day killing of the lawyer and sentenced him to death by hanging.
“The court finds the defendant guilty on one count murder. You will be hanged by the neck till you are dead,” the court held
The Daily Crucible reports that Bolanle Raheem, a lawyer in Lagos, was allegedly shot and killed by Vandi on her way home from Christmas Day 2022.
The shooting occurred in Ajah area of Lagos when the deceased and her family were returning from Christmas service.
Some police officers attached to the Ajiwe police station in Ajah area of Lagos had fanned their car down and ordered them to stop.
ASP Drambi Vandi allegedly shot at the car and the bullet was said to have lethally struck the lawyer at the chest region of her body and sensing the harm done, he fled the scene afterwards.
A member of the Lagos branch of Nigeria Bar Association(NBA) who doubled as colleague of Bolanle, claimed that that some policemen evacuated her body from the scene after the incident.
The Daily Crucible gathered at the time that Bolanle was rushed to an undisclosed healthcare facility where she was confirmed dead.
The grieving colleague, then asked the bar for assistance “lest the police changes the narrative.”
The message read: “I am Barr. Yvonne a member of the NBA Lagos Branch, Sir I tried reaching out to you but I guess you are busy.
“My boss Barr Omobolanle Raheem was shot dead today, by a POLICE OFFICER on her way back from Xmas service at Ajah under bridge. Her family just called me now, that they need a lawyer to stand in for them before the police changes the narrative. They have taken the matter to Ajiwe Police Station.
“The police officer is from Ajiwe station. Her husband was the one driving, Barr. Omobolanle was seated in the front with her husband.
“The officer asked them to park and they needed the vehicle in front to move so they can park well, and immediately the police officer shot at a close range right into her chest. On seeing what happened, the remaining police officers on duty there absconded.
“After a while, some police men came and moved her body to the mortuary in Yaba, without obtaining any consent from her family members. Currently her family has located where they moved her body to.
“I am currently not in Lagos , I thought of bringing this to you for your assistance and guidance ma. Thank you.”
Lagos police command spokesperson, Benjamin Hundeyin, swiftly confirmed the unfortunate incident and said an assistant superintendent of police (ASP) who shot at the deceased and two other officers were arrested and kept in custody shortly after the lethal shooting.
“Unfortunate and avoidable incident that was. The ASP that shot and two others with him have since been taken into custody. They are to be moved to the SCID for further investigation,” Hundeyin said on Twitter.
