Nigeria’s Lagos State High Court has sentenced Drambi Vandi, a suspended police officer, to death by hanging for the murder of Lagos-based lawyer Bolanle Raheem.
The verdict was delivered by Judge Ibironke Harrison, who found Vandi guilty of the heinous crime on Monday.
On December 25, 2022, Vanguard reported that Vandi allegedly shot and killed Mrs. Raheem, who was pregnant at the time, at the Ajah roundabout in Lagos. Vandi was attached to the Ajiwe police division in the Ajah area of the state.
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His actions were met with widespread condemnation from Nigerians, leading to his suspension just two days after the incident.
The Lagos state government presented a one-count charge of murder against the defendant and subsequently arraigned him.
The court trial began in January and featured testimonies from the deceased’s husband, sister, police armorer, pathologist, and seven others who testified against Vandi. The prosecution tendered 27 exhibits as evidence.
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Vandi was the sole witness who testified in his own defense. During his testimony, he asserted that the bullet presented in court, which was believed to have killed Mrs. Raheem, did not originate from the rifle he carried on the day of the incident. He further claimed that he had never seen the bullet until it was presented in court.
This case has garnered significant attention due to the shocking nature of the crime and the subsequent legal proceedings.
The sentencing of Vandi to death by hanging marks a significant development in the pursuit of justice for the victim and her family.
