Juliet Buna
The Lagos State High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) will today hear more eyewitness accounts of the killing of a Lagos-based lawyer, Mrs. Omobolanle Raheem, on Christmas Day, allegedly by an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Drambi Vandi.
Expected to enter the witness box as third and fourth prosecution witnesses are the deceased’s husband, Gbenga Raheem, and her sister.
The judge arrived at the date, yesterday, after the conclusion of the testimonies of the first two prosecution witnesses, Mr. Matthew Ameh and Mr. Fiyegha Ebimine – both Police Inspectors.
Justice Ibironke Harrison fixed the date yesterday after concluding testimonies of the first two prosecution witnesses, Matthew Ameh and Fiyegha Ebimine – both Police Inspectors.
The 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. Vandi however pleaded not guilty.
At the resumption of proceedings yesterday, Vandi’s lawyer, Adetokunbo Odutola, completed his cross-examination of Inspector Ameh, which he began on January 16.
Justice Harrison advised the lawyer to make a formal application and adjourned till today for continuation of trial.
Bolanle (41), a property lawyer with over 10 years of call-to-bar experience, was killed on Christmas Day during a stop and search duty in the Ajah area of Lagos.
Vandi, attached to the Ajiwe Police Station in Ajah, Lagos, is accused of shooting Raheem while she was returning from an outing with her husband, sister and other family members.
It would be recalled that the Lagos State Government had on January 16, 2023, commenced Vandi’s prosecution for the alleged murder, with the state’s Attorney-General (AG) and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, arraigning Vandi on a count charge of murder.
Specifically, the 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.
