Omobolanle Raheem: ASP Dramdi Vandi To Die By Hanging

The High Court of Lagos State, Tafawa Balewa Square, presided over by Justice Ibironke Harrison, has convicted and sentenced the suspended Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP, Dramdi Vandi to death by hanging, for the murder of a Lagos-based lawyer, Omobolanle Raheem.

The judge arrived at the decision while delivering judgment on a count charge of murder preferred against him by the Lagos State government, LASG.

According to Justice Harrison, the state government had been able to establish the case against the suspended officer beyond all reasonable doubt.

The judge held that The court found the defendant guilty of one count of murder. You will be hanged by the neck until you are dead.”

It would be recalled that Vandi was arraigned on January 16, 2023, on a count charge of murder as slammed against him by the state government.

But he pleaded not guilty to the charge, and the judge ordered an accelerated hearing on the case.

Specifically, the LASG had alleged that Vandi shot Mrs Raheem in the chest at Ajah Roundabout on the Lekki expressway on December 25, 2022.

The offence, according to the LASG, contravenes Section 223 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

While the trial lasted on the criminal case, the prosecution team, led by the state’s Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, called 11 witnesses, including eight police officers and a pathologist.

Among the prosecution witnesses called is Inspector Matthew Ameh, who worked with ASP Vandi at the time of the alleged murder.

The case of the prosecution was then closed on February 25. On February 28, the defendant through his counsel, Gbenro Gbadamosi, filed an application, praying the court to quash the charge against him.

Gbadamosi particularly insisted that the evidence of the prosecution witnesses was inconsistent and did not link Vandi to the alleged murder.

But on April 3, Justice Harrison threw out the no-case submission as initiated by ASP Vandi.

In throwing out Vandi’s submission, the trial judge held that the prosecution established sufficient oral and documentary evidence linking ASP Vandi to the alleged crime, which required an explanation from him.

Justice Harrison added that the evidence by the defendant would shed light on what happened.

The position of the court prompted Vandi to, on May 31, give evidence and also close his case. His lawyer hinted to the court that Vandi was the sole defence witness.

Parties adopted their written addresses on July 13, and the court reserved judgment until October 9.