BOLANLE RAHEEM: EXPENDED AMMUNITION WAS RECOVERED FROM THE DECEASED's BODY - WITNESS TELLS COURT

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

The on-going murder trial of Drambi Vandi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police who was alleged to have killed a Lagos-based lawyer, Omobolanle Raheem, on Christmas day continued on Thursday, at the High Court of Lagos, Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) annex.

The case continued as the Investigating Police officer, Adeyemo Olubunmi and a Ballistician, Adeyeye Bamisope gave their testimonies before Justice Ibironke Harrison.

While Adeyemo Olubunmi, was giving his testimony, he told the court that an expended bullet was found in the body of the deceased during a post-mortem examination while adding that an empty shell was also recovered at the back of a seat inside the vehicle that was shot at.

The Prosecuting team lead by the Attorney General of the State, however, presented the bullet that was recovered, a post-mortem report and a disk of autopsy after the officer had identified the Exhibits.

The witness also presented the guns that we’re used on the day of the incident by the defendant and his team member while the counsel tendered a copy of the arms register.

Adeyemo informed the court that the investigation that was conducted revealed that Drambi Vandi, could be culpable of the allegations that he actually killed the lawyer.

The inspector also explained that, when the case was transferred to the State Crime Investigation Department, Panti, Yaba on 26th December, 2022 from Ajah Division

He said, “I recorded the statement of the defendant and he denied the allegation.We took the defendant’s gun for post-mortem examination.

The vehicle was recovered for ballistic inspection. We visited the scene beside Ajah bridge before proceeding to the Mainland Mortuary. He added at the defendant was taken to a neuro-phsychiatric hospital in Yaba for examination.

While we were searching vehicle, we recovered one empty shell at the back seat. We sent the two riffles for ballistic examination, defendant used one and the one was used by the other officer. The armorer from Ajah police station transferred the riffles to us for ballistic examination. The Ballistician then issued a report after the examination.”

During cross examination, the defense counsel Adetokunbo Odutola asked the witness if the number that the armorer registered and the number on the gun that was brought to the court, was the same gun the defendant used on the day of the incident.

The witness answered yes adding that during the EndSARS protest, all the arms and ammunition at the Ajah Police Station was burnt but was later recovered and coupled up.

He also explain that some guns have different numbers because they were coupled with different guns

The officer was asked again why he concluded that the defendant was culpable for the murder case.

He responded that the reports he saw made him conclude.

He was later asked by Mr. Odutola to prove that the gun has one number.

Meanwhile, Adeyeye Bamisope, a Ballistician and the second witness on Thursday, during his testimony, mentioned that during investigation, it was discovered that the bullet entered through the window which led to it shattering.

“There was no perforation or bullet holes on the body of the car.”

He took out time to demonstrate to the court the parts of a gun and how it is used.He mentioned the Corking handle, the trigger, magazine, bullet ,gun grip safety button amongst others.

According to him “the two guns the police used for operation on that day was AK 47 and they use 70.60 ammunition. 24669 and 4156 are the numbers”.

He also narrated to the court that the magazine can take 30 rounds of ammunition, with a burnt propellers (gun powder), and the working mechanism is complete.

According to him, the weapons are legal tenders.

However, during cross examination, the defense Lawyer Adetokunbo Odutola, asked the witness if the bullet fragment can be linked to the empty shell that was found in the car.

He replied that the jacket could not be linked to the rifles because of the damage on the bullet fragment.

The court ordered that the exhibits P17, P18 and P19 respectively to be taken back to the exhibits keeper at SCID Panti, Yaba.

Recall that on the last adjourned date, an Amourer at the Ajiwe police station, Ajah Division , testified before the High Court of Lagos, Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), annex on Wednesday, that two rounds of ammunition was missing from the 25 rounds that Drambi Vandi had booked along side his AK-47 rifle on 25th of December, 2022.

Justice Harrison however, adjourned the case to 15th of February for Continuation of trial.