Justice Ibironke Harrison of the Lagos High Court Sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square, on Monday, sentenced the suspended Assistant Superintendent of Police, Drambi Vandi, to death by hanging for the murder of a property lawyer, Mrs. Omobolanle Raheem.
The court sentenced the ASP after finding him guilty of the murder of the pregnant lawyer. The court held that the prosecution was able to prove its case beyond reasonable doubt.
Justice Harrison in her judgement held that ASP Vandi was guilty of murder stating, “You are to be hanged by the neck until you are dead. May God have mercy on your soul.”
Vandi had shot Mrs. Raheem dead in the presence of her husband while returning from church on Christmas Day last year at a Police checkpoint in Lagos.
Mrs. Raheem, who was pregnant, was fatally shot on Christmas day by the police officer attached to the Ajiwe police division in the Ajah area of the state.
Justice Harrison in her judgement held that it was only the convict that had the opportunity to commit the crime even though no eyewitness saw him fire the shot.
The court also held that the evidence of the 11 witnesses, who testified for the prosecution, was credible and convincing enough to convict the suspended police officer.
The court stated that although none of the eyewitnesses actually saw the defendant pull the trigger, the circumstantial evidence was overwhelming.
The judge held that a defendant could be convicted when the circumstantial evidence is overwhelming.
Justice Harrison held that, “The question in the mind of the court is did the prosecution proffer any additional evidence. The court finds that the ammunition of the other officers, who were on patrol with the defendant remained intact but two of the defendant’s ammunition was missing.”
The court held that the defendant constituted itself as a ballistically pathologist without tendering a certificate to that effect, and therefore dismissed the evidence of the defendant as regards the bullet used.
“The court finds that the forensic expert and the medical doctor’s evidence confirm the circumstantial evidence that the defendant had the opportunity to shoot the victim and that the victim was shot and died from the gunshot. Every eyewitness heard the loud noise and the passers-by shouted in Yoruba language (oti pa eyan) meaning you have killed someone,” the judge stated.
Besides, the court held that the prosecution proved its case beyond every reasonable doubt that there was overwhelming circumstantial evidence that it was the convict who shot the gun that killed the deceased.
“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 chest. It was the defendant, who had an Ak-47 rifle whose ammunition was missing after the armourer counted it.
“Therefore, the defendant is found guilty of the one count charge and sentenced to death by hanging; he should be hanged until he dies,” Justice Harrison held.
The Lagos State government had arraigned Vandi before the court for allegedly shooting to death the 41-year-old pregnant lawyer at the Ajah under-bridge checkpoint on December 25, 2022.
Lagos State government, in a charge dated December 28, 2022, and marked LD/20598c/22, alleged that Vandi killed Raheem contrary to Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
He was arraigned before the court on January 16, 2023, and Vandi pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge of murder, but the court then granted accelerated hearing on the case.
Wale Igbintade
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