Bolanle Raheem: Accused Officer, Vandi, Pleads Not Guilty

Lagos State government on Monday arraigned Drambi Vandi, an assistant superintendent of police who allegedly shot and killed a lawyer, Mrs. Omobolanle Raheem on December 25, 2022, before a state High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square for murder.

Vandi was docked before Justice Ibironke Harrison on a one-count charge of murder contrary to Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

He pleaded not guilty to the charge. The arraignment which was scheduled for 9 am was initially delayed by the absence of the defence counsel in court.

Following the development, Justice Harrison was forced to stand the matter down to allow the lawyer, Adetokunbo Odutola, to get to court.

Also, during the proceedings, the prosecution called its first witness, police inspector, Mathew Ameh. In his testimony, Ameh told the court that his team, which includes the defendant, were deployed to Ajah under the bridge where they were conducting stop-and-search operations.

The witness also testified that Vandi, who was the leader of the team, was behind while he was in the middle, and another policeman, Inspector Dimini, was in the front.

Ameh informed the court that his team tried to stop the deceased’s car which is an unregistered vehicle but the driver didn’t stop and Supol Vandi fired at the car.

He said, “The next thing I heard was a gunshot and I looked back to see what was happening and I saw that a windscreen was falling.

“The next thing I saw again was a dark woman who jumped down from the vehicle and I heard her saying, ‘oga you have killed my sister.’ The woman held him and before I and Dimini could get to them, they had entered the car, locked it, and left,” the witness narrated.

Before adjourning the case to January 25, Justice Harrison gave an order for an accelerated hearing of the trial