BREAKING: POLICE OFFICER DRAMBI VANDI GUILTY; SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR KILLING BOLANLE RAHEEM

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– To Die by Hanging

By Aishat Momoh. O.

A Lagos High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos has found Suspended Assistant Superintendent of Police, (ASP) Drambi Vandi, guilty of killing Lagos lawyer and realtor, Bolanle Raheem.

In a judgement read on Monday, Justice Ibironke Harrison said that the Prosecution has proven beyond reasonable doubt that Vandi is guilty of killing Raheem on Christmas day, December 25, 2022.

Justice Harrison subsequently sentenced Vandi to death by hanging.

Justice Ibironke Harrison found him guilty on count one preferred against him contrary to Section 223 of the Criminal laws of Lagos state, 2015.

The judge said “I hereby pronounce that you Drambi Vandi, shall be hanged by the neck until death. May God have mercy on you.”

While speaking with Journalists after the verdict, the Director of Public Prosecution, Dr. Babajide Martins, thanked the Lagos State Government For Providing the enabling environment for being seeing the prosecution through.

He also, thanked the police for their cooperation. He added, “I want to of course, say thank you to my team members for their industry and more especially, the Solicitor General, Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Shitta-Bay, who had also appeared on this case on a number of occasion.”

Abiye Tam-George, Secretary of the Sub-Committee constituted by the Nigerian Bar association (NBA), to ensure that Justice is served for Bolanle Raheem’s case while reacting to the judgement said, “Beautifully well delivered Judgement has just taken place. The NBA has been at the forefront, Immediately we were informed of the tragedy, we had done everything humanly possible in contacting the Commissioner of Police, the Attorney General and we did everything. we are most grateful that the Judge did exactly what she has been sworn in to do. She has taken the responsibility to deliver Justice in good time.”

“We care calling on the Ministry of Justice to consider the Gafaru’s case, which is also a mandate of this sub-committee, to ensure that Justice is done. It has to be dealt with expeditiously, there has been delay and story telling in the case and we want that done as well,” She concluded.

Olakitan Bolu Agbaje, the counsel representing the Raheem’s family expressed her satisfaction in the verdict stating that though, it could not bring the dead back, but the judgement will give the family the hope that the Convict has been brought to book and will get his deserved punishment.

Meanwhile, Mr. Adetokunbo Odutola, the lead defense Counsel, said that he would know the next step to take when he receives the Certified True Copy (CTC) of the judgement.

Recall that the Lagos State Government, arraigned Vandi, before the Court on 16th of January, for shooting the 41-year-old Lawyer and Realtor at the Ajah underbridge on Christmas day, 25th of December, 2022.

On July 13, Justice Ibironke Harrison set the date for judgment following the acceptance of the parties’ last written addresses in the matter.

Following the conclusion of both sides’ cases, the state’s Director of Public Prosecution, Babajide Martins, and defense lawyer Jude Egwu notified the court that they were ready to adopt their final written addresses.

The defense counsel informed the court that the defendant’s last written address was filed on June 20, 2023, and that a reply on points of law was made on July 12, 2023, in response to the prosecution’s written address.

The defense counsel relied on all of the paragraphs of the written address in support and accepted them as the defense’s argument, urging the court to maintain the argument and discharge the defendant.

Mr. Egwu contended that the prosecution’s case was founded on hearsay and circumstantial evidence and was insufficient to convict the prisoner.

The prosecution told the court that on July 5, 2023, the prosecution’s written address was filed. He pleaded with the court to convict the defendant based on all of the arguments presented.

The prosecution urged the court to dismiss the defense’s final written address and respond to questions of law. He also stated that the defense’s concerns regarding discrepancies are not fatal and will not result in a miscarriage of justice.

“The ballistician’s testimony in court did not exonerate the defendant and never mentioned that the bullet did not come from the defendant’s gun.”

During his testimony in court, the ballista noted that the bullet was so damaged and broken that it was difficult to identify.

PW6 and PW7 testified directly against the defendant, directing the court’s attention to the IPO’s (PW7) testimony, to the effect that the deceased’s sister and husband held on to the defendant after the shooting, and that he was seen taking cover under the hospital’s staircase without his uniform and wearing mufti.

PW6 said that following the incident, the defendant requested one round of ammunition.”

The prosecution contended that the defendant’s decision to fire the ammunition was deliberate and intentional in killing the dead.