Court sentences policeman to death for killing Lagos-based lawyer

The Lagos State High Court has sentenced to death by hanging the suspended policeman Drambi Vandi for shooting dead a Lagos-based lawyer, Bolanle Raheem.

Justice Ibironke Harrison found the accused guilty of murder on Monday during her rulings.

Harrison said: “The court found the defendant guilty on one count of murder. You will be hanged by the neck till you are dead.”

Vandi reportedly killed Mrs Raheem, who was pregnant at the Ajah roundabout in Lagos on December 25, 2022.

The police officer was attached to the Ajiwe police division in the Ajah area of Lagos State.

Vandi’s heinous act was widely condemned by Nigerians and he was suspended two days after the incident.

Lagos state government had presented a one-count charge of murder of the lawyer against the defendant and subsequently arraigned him.

As the court trial started in January, the deceased’s husband, sister, police armourer, pathologist and seven others, have testified against the defendant.

The prosecution tendered 27 exhibits.

Vandi was the only witness who testified in his own defence.

In his testimony before the court, Vandi told the judge that the bullet presented in court which was said to have killed Mrs Raheem did not come from the rifle he carried on the day of the incident.

He also claimed that he had never seen the bullet until it was tendered in court.