OMOBOLANLE RAHEEM: PROSECUTING WITNESS NARRATES HOW ASP VANDI TRIED TO RUN AWAY FROM SCENE OF CRIME
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By Aishat Momoh. O.
On Wednesday, the murder trial against Drambi Vandi, the alleged killer of a Lagos-based lawyer, Omobolanle Raheem, who was shot on Christmas day, resumed at the High Court of Lagos, sitting Tafawa Balewa Square annex (TBS) as Prosecuting team lead by Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo SAN, presented a second witness.
Inspector Ebimine Fiyegha, a police offcer while recounting the incident on Christmas day, told the court that, ASP Vandi was trying to runaway in a ‘Korope’ vehicle from the scene, when they heard the gunshot.
The State Government had preferred a one-count charge of murder contrary to section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos, 2015 against the defendant and arraigned him for the murder of Omobolanle Raheem, on Christmas day.
While giving his testimony before Justice Ibironke Harrison, inspector Ebimine, narrated everything that he knew about the incident that happened at the Ajah Underbridge on December 25, 2022.
Ebimine noted that himself and ASP Drambi Vandi were both armed and that nobody’s life was under threat when the incident happened stating that before he and his colleagues left for Ajah Underbridge on the 25th of December, 2022, the DPO in charge of the Ajah Division told the officers not to use their firearms unless there is a threat to life while prayers was said by another corporal before they set out.
He said, “When we got to Ajah Underbridge, we positioned ourselves while we carried out our duties. I was at the front, Inspector Ameh was in the middle, while inspector Vandi was at the back about 30meters away from Ameh.”
“Around 1:00 O’clock, I saw a Toyota Venza car coming, I tried to flag them down but it didn’t stop. I saw a woman sitting at the owners corner while another man was at the driver’s seat. The car passed me and I was asking myself why the car didn’t stop because it was not speeding “.
I turned to do other duties when I heard a gunshot. I looked back immediately and was asking what happened, people had already started gathering and shouting ‘O ti payan’. At this time, everyone was moving towards the scene
“I saw a black woman shouti ‘Eh!, you have killed my sister oo, she was pointing to officer Vandi. That was when he ran out and entered into a Mazda vehicle known as ‘Korope’. They stopped the ‘Korope’ and dragged him out before taking him to the Venza.”
“At that time, I was lost because I didn’t understand what was going on anymore, I tried to reach him on phone to know why he was running but when he answered, he simply said, I should wait before ending the call.”
“On our way to the Station, I called oga again and he repeated what he said earlier, that I should wait.
During Cross-examination, Mr. Odutola, the defense counsel asked the witness if he saw his client when he pulled the trigger.
The officer answered, “Like I said earlier, I was backing him when I heard the sound.
When asked about the distance between himself and the other members of the team, he said that, “The distance between I and Ameh is about 20meters, while Ameh and Vandi is about 30meters.
In other words, the distance the officers in total is about 50meters.
He also explain the visible things that can be found under the bridge on the day of the incident. He noted that there were other vehicle passing through that route, adding that there is a motor park like a loading.
After cross-examining the witness, the defense counsel resolved that there are contradictions in the testimony of PW2 as he was not telling the truth.
Haven listened to the examination, testimony and cross-examination of the witness, Justice Harrison however, adjourned the case till 26th of January, 2023 for continuation of trial while mentioning that the defendant and witnesses will be produced.
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