UPDATED: ASP Vandi pleads not guilty to killing Lagos lawyer

• Published date: 16 January 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

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

Lagos Attorney-General (AG) and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. 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 and marked LD/20598c/22, alleged that Vandi killed Raheem contrary to Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

'ASP Vandi on the 25th of December 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 stated.

Vandi pleaded not guilty. Onigbanjo informed Justice Ibironke Harrison that the prosecution had two witnesses - Mr. Matthew Ameh and Mr. Ebimini - both Police Inspectors.

Read Also: Bolanle Raheem: Lawyer's absence stalls ASP Vandi's arraignment

He called Ameh into the witness box and examined him before the judge.

The witness testified that he, Ebimini and Vandi were colleagues at the Ajah Police Division, adding 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 of the Ajah Division cautioned all the police units under his control against indiscriminate firearms use.

'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 life is in danger or your life is in danger.'

He stated that they were on a 'stop and search' duty under the Ajah Bridge on Christmas Day when a Toyota car approached.

He said: 'Ebimini was in front, I was in the middle while Supol Vandi was the last man behind (us).'

Ameh said as the car approached Ebimini, he flagged it down but the car drove past.

The witness said: 'It didn't stop for him. The car...