30th December, 2022
ASP Drambi Vandi, the police officer who allegedly shoot and killed Barrister Omobolanle Raheem in Ajah area of Lagos State was on Friday docked at Chief Magistrate Court in Yaba area of the state on one- count charge of murder.
Lagos State Attorney-General, Moyosore Onigbanjo, is leading the prosecution of the police officer.
The one count charge filed against Vandi read, “That you ASP Drambi Vandi on the 25th day of December 2022, at Ajah Road, along the Lekki Expressway, Lagos, unlawfully killed one Omobolanle Raheem by shooting the deceased in the chest contrary to Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.”
With the charge, the Attorney General, who appeared before the Chief Magistrate Court, Yaba, applied for the remand of the defendant pursuant to Section 264 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos, 2015.
Moyosore however asked the court presided over by Chief Magistrate Adeola Olatunbosun to remand the defendant pursuant to Section 264 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos, 2015.
The AGF said the request is to give the police the opportunity to conclude its investigations into the matter.
The magistrate granted the request.
Consequently, she remanded ASP Vandi at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre.
She also ordered that the case file be duplicated and sent to the Director of Public Prosecution, Dr. Jide Martins for legal advice.
She then adjourned to January 30, 2023 to await legal advice.
The arraignment of Vandi followed the approval of is suspension by the Police Service Commission (PSC) for allegedly shooting and killing Mrs Raheem.
The suspension is contained in a statement issued by Mr Ikechukwu Ani, the Head of Press and Public Relations of PSC on Thursday in Abuja.
The suspension is with immediate effect.
“The commission , in a letter to the Inspector General of Police (I-G), signed by its acting Chairman, Justice Clara Ogunbiyi, retired has carefully examined the facts of the case.
“It has granted the approval of the suspension of the officer from duty with immediate effect after observing allegations brought against him,” he said.
Ani said the commission had earlier condemned the unprovoked killing of the lawyer and had demanded a thorough investigation into the matter.
Be said the commission has also called for proper training of Police personnel on weapon management.