After more than a year trial of a suspended Assistant Superintendent of police, Officer Drambi Vandi, who was accused of the murder of Bolanle Raheem, a prominent female lawyer in Lagos, the Lagos High Court, on Monday sentenced him to death.
Drambi Vandi, had earlier pleaded not guilty to the murder charges brought before the Lagos State High Court at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) annex for a one-count charge of murder on Monday.
Recall that on December 25, 2022, Raheem Bolanle was allegedly shot dead by Officer Vandi in the Ajah area of Lagos.
The victim was returning home from a Christmas outing with her family when the ugly incident took place.
The murder of Bolanle attracted nationwide condensation which necessitated the eventual arrest and prosecution of the police officer.
Vandi was first arraigned on Jan. 16, 2023, on a count charge of murder but pleaded not guilty.
The court, however , granted an accelerated hearing on the case.
Lagos State Government alleged that the defendant shot Raheem in the chest on Dec. 25, 2022, at Ajah Roundabout, on Lekki- Expressway, Lagos State, an offence that contravenes Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The 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 prosecution also presented two eyewitnesses and a pathologist.
Among the prosecution witnesses is Insp. Matthew Ameh, who allegedly worked with the defendant at the time of the alleged murder.
The prosecution closed its case on Feb. 25.
On Feb. 28, the defendant, through his counsel, Mr Gbenro Gbadamosi, filed an application, praying the court to quash the charge against him.
Gbadamosi argued that the evidence of the prosecution witnesses was inconsistent and did not link the defendant to the alleged murder.
But on April 3, the court, however, dismissed the no-case submission.
Justice Ibironke Harrison ruled that the prosecution established sufficient oral and documentary evidence linking the defendant to the alleged crime, which required an explanation from him.
According to Harrison, the evidence by the defendant would shed light on what happened and on May 31, the defendant gave evidence and closed his case.
His lawyer told the court that Vandi was the sole defence witness and by July 13, the parties adopted their written addresses, and the court reserved judgment until Oct. 9.
On Monday Oct 9, the case saw the verdict of death by hanging for Officer Drambi Vandi.