Court sentences police officer Drambi Vandi to death for killing lawyer Bolanle Raheem

Justice Ibironke Harrison of a Lagos State High Court has sentenced police officer, ASP Drambi Vandi, to death by hanging for killing lawyer, Barrister Bolanle Raheem.

Vandi had shot Mrs Raheem dead in the presence of her husband while returning from church on Christmas Day December 25, 2022 at a Police checkpoint in Lagos.

Delivering judgment on Monday, October 9, the court found the suspended Assistant Superintendent of Police guilty of the Christmas Day killing of the lawyer and sentenced him to death by hanging. 

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 had said Vandi shot Mrs Raheem in the chest on Dec. 25, 2022, at Ajah Roundabout, on Lekki- Expressway, Lagos State. The state government told the court that 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 Feb. 25. 

On Feb. 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 filed by Vandi.

Justice Harrison held that the prosecution established sufficient oral and documentary evidence linking the defendant to the crime.