9th October, 2023
Justice Ibironke Harrison of a Lagos High Court has sentenced a police officer, Drambi Vandi, to death for killing a Lagos-based lawyer, Omobolanle Raheem, on Christmas Day last year.
Justice Ibironke Harrison passed the death sentence on ASP Vandi after finding him guilty of the murder of the pregnant lawyer.
Harrison said the prosecution was able to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The sentence comes six months after the court dismissed a “no case submission” filed by Vandi’s lawyers.
Justice Harrison held that prosecution – Lagos State Government – proved beyond reasonable doubt that Vandi killed Raheem.
“The death of the deceased was instantaneous. There is no other explanation. It was the gunshot that shattered the side glass and pierced the victim’s est.
“It was the defendant who had an AK-47 rifle whose ammunition was missing after the armourer counted it,” she held.
She also held that the defendant did not say that he pointed the gun to force or scare the people in the vehicle to obey an order and park the vehicle.
According to Harrison, Vandi did not also say that the shooting was accidental which would have earned him a smaller sentence of manslaughter.
“Therefore, the defendant is found guilty of the one-count charge and sntenced to death by hanging until he dies.
Vandi was arraigned on Jan. 16 on a count charge of murder but he pleaded not guilty.
The court granted accelerated hearing in the case.
The offence of murder contravenes Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Prosecution team led by the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo, called a total of 11 witnesses, including eight police officers.
The other prosecution witnesses are two witnesses and a pathologist.
Among the prosecution witnesses was Insp Matthew Ameh, who worked with Vandi at the time of the murder.
The prosecution closed its case on Feb. 25.
On Feb. 28, Vandi, through his counsel, Mr Gbenro Gbadamosi, filed an application, praying the court to quash the charge against him.
Gbadamosi argued that evidence of the prosecution witnesses were inconsistent and did not link Vandi to the murder.
On April 3, the court dismissed the no-case submission.
Harrison held that prosecution established sufficient oral and documentary evidence linking Vandi to the crime, which required explanation from him.
Harrison added that evidence by Vandi would shed light on what happened.
On May 31, Vandi gave evidence and closed his case.
His counsel had told the court that Vandi was the sole defence witness.
On July 13, the parties adopted their written addresses, and the court reserved judgment until Oct. 9.