Omobolanle Raheem: ASP Vandi Asked To Open Defence

Justice Ibironke Harrison of the High Court of Lagos State in Tafawa Balewa Square, TBS, today, dismantled the no-case submission filed by Assistant Superintendent of Police, ASP, Drambi Vandi, who allegedly killed a Lagos-based lawyer, Omobolanle Raheem, on December 25, 2022.

It is recalled that Vandi had initiated the action on February 28, 2023, before the judge in a move to have the charge made against him by the Lagos state government, LASG, thrown out on the grounds of weak and inconsistent evidence linking him to the alleged murder.

However, in her ruling, Justice Harrison declared that the prosecution led by the Attorney-General, AG, of Lagos, Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, had established sufficient oral and documentary evidence linking the defendant to the crime, which required an explanation from him.

The judge added that the evidence of the defendant, being the only other eyewitness who had yet to testify before it about the incident, will shed light on what happened that day.

Justice Harrison said: "The prosecution has established a prima facie case requiring some explanation by the defendant. The court isn't looking at the credibility of the prosecution witnesses at this stage. 

“The court will not delve into the substantive case right now. The only real issue now is whether a prima facie case has been made by the prosecution, and not whether it has proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.”

Before the prosecution closed its case on February 15, it had called 11 witnesses made up of eight police officers, some of whom were colleagues of the defendant; two eye eyewitnesses and a pathologist.

But handing down her ruling, Justice Harrison posited that some of the witnesses had testified that they saw him shoot the deceased and that the defendant's rifle was short of two pieces of ammunition upon his arrest.

Gbenro Gbadamosi, the defence counsel, in reacting to the ruling, told the judge that the defence team will review the ruling and decide on whether to Appeal or not.

But the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions, DPP, Babajide Martins, argued that an interlocutory appeal of this nature will not stop the continuation of the trial in line with Section 273 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Laws of Lagos State. He then applied for a date for a further hearing.

The murder case has been adjourned until May 16, for the defendant to open his defence.

On January 16, 2023, the prosecution arraigned ASP Vandi on a count charge bordering on murder.

The charge had stated that he (Vandi) shot and killed the 41-year-old pregnant property lawyer by shooting her in the chest; an offence contrary to Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Vandi pleaded not guilty to the charge.

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