Justice Ibironke Harrison of the Lagos High Court has sentenced suspended Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Drambi Vandi to death by hanging for the murder of property lawyer Mrs. Omobolanle Raheem. Vandi was found guilty of fatally shooting Mrs. Raheem, who was pregnant, in the presence of her husband while returning from church on Christmas Day last year at a police checkpoint in Lagos.
Justice Harrison ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt and held that ASP Vandi was guilty of murder. She stated, “You are to be hanged by the neck until you are dead. May God have mercy on your soul.”
Although no eyewitness saw Vandi fire the fatal shot, the judge concluded that he had the opportunity to commit the crime, and the circumstantial evidence was overwhelming. The court held that the evidence of the 11 prosecution witnesses was credible and convincing enough to convict the suspended police officer.
The court also noted that two of Vandi’s ammunition rounds were missing, while the ammunition of other officers on patrol with him remained intact. Justice Harrison dismissed the defendant’s attempt to question the bullet used in the crime, stating that he had not provided a certificate to prove his expertise.
ASP Vandi was arraigned for allegedly shooting Mrs. Raheem on December 25, 2022, and pleaded not guilty to the murder charge. The Lagos State government brought the case against him, alleging that he killed Raheem in violation of Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.