Bolanle Raheem’s death: Court sentences ASP to death by hanging as witness say, ‘I saw Vandi shoot at my sister Bolanle Raheem’

The Lagos High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos Island, on Monday, sentenced the suspended Assistant Superintendent of Police, Drambi Vandi, who killed a Lagos-based lawyer, Mrs. Omobolanle Raheem, to death by hanging.

Justice Ibironke Harrison sentenced the cop after finding him guilty of the murder of the pregnant lawyer.

Harrison held that the prosecution was able to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.

The judge also held that the convict shot the deceased at close range.

An earlier report in April 3 had it that the court dismissed the “no case submission” filed by Vandi.

Justice Harrison ordered the defendant to open his defence as a ‘prima facie’ has been made against him.

In his application on the no-case submission, Vandi had asked the court to dismiss the suit and discharge him claiming that he had no case to answer.

In his arguments, the defence counsel, Adetokunbo Odutola, told the court to note among other things that none of the eyewitnesses saw the defendant shoot and that the ballistic report of the gun allegedly fired expressly stated that the bullet could not be linked with any of the firearms recovered from the police officers at the scene.

Oduntola who argued that the pathologist who testified mentioned that the bullet penetrated from the left through the armpit while the prosecution stated that the deceased was shot in the chest.

However, the prosecution led by the Attorney General of Lagos State, Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), had countered the arguments and urged the defendant to defend himself insisting that the prosecution had successfully made its case against him.

Mr vandi was arraigned on Jan. 16 2023 on a count charge of murder but he pleaded not guilty.

The court granted accelerated hearing on the case.

The lagos State Government alleged that the defendant shot Mrs Raheem in the chest on Dec. 25, 2022, at Ajah Roundabout, on Lekki- Expressway, Lagos State.

The crime contravenes Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Prosecution team led by the former attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo, called a total of 11 witnesses including eight police officers.

On Feb. 28, the defendant through his counsel, Mr Gbenro Gbadamosi, filed an application, praying the court to quash the charge against him.

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 and closed his case.

His counsel had told the court that the defendant was the sole defence witness.