Bolanle Raheem: Killer-police suspect pleads not guilty

• Published date: 17 January 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

Lawyer's car had no plate number, refused to stop twice, witness alleges

Lagos State yesterday began the prosecution of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Drambi Vandi for the alleged murder of a Lagos-based lawyer, Mrs. Omobolanle Raheem, on Christmas Day.

Attorney-General (AG) and Commissioner for Justice Moyo Onigbanjo (SAN) arraigned Vandi at the Lagos State High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), on a one-count charge of murder.

The charge, dated December 28, 2022, alleged that Vandi killed Raheem contrary to Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

'ASP Vandi, on December 25, 2022, at Ajah roundabout along Lekki-Epe Expressway, Lagos, in the Lagos Judicial Division, unlawfully killed one Omobolanle Raheem (f) by shooting her in the chest,' the charge said.

But Vandi pleaded not guilty.

Onigbanjo informed Justice Ibironke Harrison that the prosecution had two witnesses -Matthew Ameh and Mr. Ebimini - both Police Inspectors.

He called Ameh, who testified that he, Ebimini and Vandi were colleagues at the Ajah Police Division, and that Vandii was the leader of their three-man team, on the day of the incident.

Ameh, who said he had been in the Force since 2001, testified that Ebimini and Vardi were armed on the day of the incident. He explained that before they were posted out for work that morning, the Divisional Police Officer cautioned all the police units under him against indiscriminate use of firearms.

He added: 'That as we were going out, our duty was to protect life and property, that on no account should anyone use his firearm unless someone's...