Omobolanle Raheem: Court Told Two Bullets Missing From Vandi's AK-47

 

Justice Ibironke Harrison of the Lagos High Court in Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), was on Wednesday told that two of the 25 rounds of ammunition allotted to Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Drambi Vandi, were missing from his AK-47 rifle shortly after he allegedly shot a Lagos-based lawyer, Omobolanle Raheem on Christmas Day.

Vandi's colleague, Adamu Shuaibu, also hinted that he noticed the shortage of bullets when he received the AK-47 from another officer that disarmed Vandi.

It is recalled that Shuaibu was the armourer on duty at the Ajiwe Police Station, Ajah Division, Lagos, where Vandi worked.

Shuaibu made this known while being led in evidence by the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, at the resumed hearing of the murder charge against Vandi.

The state government had accused Vandi of shooting the pregnant Mrs Raheem last December 25, around Ajah Underbridge, Lagos.

The prosecution had specifically preferred a count charge of murder contrary to Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 against Vandi.

The charge against Vandi reads: “ASP Vandi on the 25th of December 2022 at Ajah roundabout along Lekki-Epe Expressway Lagos, in the Lagos Judicial Division unlawfully killed one Omobolanle Raheem (F) by shooting her in the chest.”

Testifying before Justice Harrison, the witness explained that on December 25, he received a call from Inspector Ameh Matthew, one of the officers at the scene of the incident, informing him that the defendant (Vandi) had shot a pregnant woman.

He said: “When I told the DPO (Divisional Police Officer) what had happened, he led a patrol team to the scene. I called all the station guards to fortify the station.

“Later, I saw Drambi Vandi and Supol Segun with the defendant’s rifle, which he handed over to me immediately after he saw me coming out of the office.

“I disarmed Inspector (Fiyegha) Ebimine of his AK-47 rifle before cross-checking his magazine. The eight rounds of ammunition he booked were complete, but when I checked the defendant’s rifle, I realised that only 23 rounds were found and two were missing.

“I immediately moved to the cell to speak with him, and when I asked what happened, he started crying.”

When Onigbanjo (SAN) asked him if he could identify the register with which he took a record of arms and ammunition as of December 25, the officer responded in the affirmative. 

When asked during cross-examination what he did with the guns when he received them by the defence lawyer, Mr Adetokunbo Odutola, the witness said after he collected both guns, he confirmed the number of ammunition, with an addition that he and the station officer then immediately transferred the guns to the State Crime Investigation Division (SCID), Panti.

The witness equally explained that he didn’t count the bullets in the presence of the defendant because, after he was disarmed, the DPO ordered Vandi’s detention before leaving for the hospital.

While adding that the tension was so high at that time, Shuaibu further explained the procedure when a rifle is returned to the armourer.

“The normal procedure when you return a rifle is that, I will bring out the magazine and count the ammunition in the presence of the person that I collected it from, and then sign after confirming.”

The matter has been adjourned until today for the continuation of trial.

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