The Lagos High Court Sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square on Lagos Island, has sentenced the Assistant Superintendent of Police, Drambi Vandi, who killed a Lagos-based lawyer, Mrs. Omobolanle Raheem, to death by hanging.
Justice Ibironke Harrison sentenced the ASP after finding him guilty of the murder of the pregnant lawyer. Harrison held that the prosecution was able to prove its case without reasonable doubt and his defence that he didn’t shoot the deceased has no leg to stand on.
The judge also held that the convict shot the deceased at close range.
He was found guilty on the strength of the witnesses of the prosecution, who gave ‘overwhelming evidence that the loud gunshot was from his loaded gun.
Mr. vandi was arraigned on Jan. 16 2023 on a count charge of murder but he pleaded not guilty.
The court granted an accelerated hearing on the case.
The Lagos State Government alleged that the defendant, an Assistant Superintendent of Police who has now been suspended from the Force, shot Mrs. Raheem in the chest on December 25, 2022, at Ajah Roundabout, on Lekki- Expressway, Lagos State.
The crime contravenes Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The Prosecution team led by a former attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), called a total of 11 witnesses including eight police officers.
The prosecution closed its case on February 25.
On February 28, the defendant through his counsel, Gbenro Gbadamosi, filed an application, praying the court to quash the charge against him.
On April 3, the court, however, dismissed the no-case submission.
Justice Harrison held that prosecution established sufficient oral and documentary evidence linking the defendant to the alleged crime, which required explanation from him.
On May 31, the defendant gave evidence as the only witness for the defense and closed his case.
The judgment date was set on July 13 after the adoption of final written addresses by counsel in the case.