A High Court in Tafa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos, concluded a long-standing case yesterday by sentencing the ex-Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Drambi Vandi, to death by hanging. This ruling brought justice to Gbenga Raheem‘s family, who mourned the loss of Omobolanle, his pregnant wife, due to Vandi’s actions.
A tragic incident occurred on December 25, 2022, at the Ajah under-bridge checkpoint when Drambi Vandi shot and killed Omobolanle, a 41-year-old lawyer, with her husband, Gbenga, as a helpless witness.
In response to the murder charge, the defendant firmly asserted their innocence, pleading not guilty.
Under the guidance of Dr. Babajide Matins, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), the prosecution’s case during the trial featured 11 witnesses, eight of whom were police officers. Furthermore, 27 exhibits were submitted as evidence.
During the trial, only the accused had the opportunity to testify in his own defense.
In his testimony for the defense, Vandi clarified to the court that the loud bang witnesses reported was caused by a firecracker, not a gunshot.
On February 20, the defendant’s lawyer, Mr. Adetokunbo Odutola, lodged a no-case submission application before the court. In this application, Vandi implored the court to reject the charges and release him, citing the absence of a case against him.
The defense counsel, in his arguments, directed the court’s attention to several key points, including the fact that none of the eyewitnesses had seen the defendant fire a shot. Additionally, he brought up the report, which expressly stated that the bullet in question could not be traced to any of the firearms in possession of the police officers at the scene.
Additionally, Odutola urged the court to take into account the pathologist’s statement, which verified that the deceased had succumbed to a gunshot wound in the left axillary fold. According to the pathologist’s analysis, the bullet had traversed from the posterior to anterior, ultimately penetrating the chest.
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On April 3, the court issued its ruling, declining the application and confirming that the defendant had a case to respond to, thereby allowing the trial to proceed.
The court also made it clear that a banger was incapable of causing a lethal outcome and pointed out that the defendant did not provide any further explanation or present expert evidence to the contrary.
Yesterday, during her ruling, the judge reached a verdict, finding Vandi guilty of the murder charges presented by the state government.
Justice Harrison held that the prosecution witnesses gave ‘overwhelming circumstantial evidence’ against him.
According to her analysis, the prosecution had substantiated their case with substantial oral and documentary evidence that directly implicated the defendant in the crime.
According to the judge, the accounts provided by the deceased’s sister, who retained the defendant’s shirt after the shooting, as well as the assertions of bystanders who identified him as the shooter, were incontrovertible.
According to the court, the defendant was unable to provide substantial evidence to counter the fact that multiple witnesses had seen him escape into a minibus, be forcibly removed, and transported to the hospital, where Mrs. Raheem was rushed for treatment. The court further pointed out that he had changed into civilian attire and hid himself beneath a staircase at the hospital.
‘The pathologist said the deceased was fired at close range, and the armourer also testified for the state that two bullets were missing from his weapon afterwards.’
‘The ballistician’s report was found to be inconclusive because the defendant’s gun upon examination, had some defects as the bullet fragments retrieved from the vehicle couldn’t be matched with the gun. But, from the autopsy report, she was shot at close range,’ the court said.
The court clarified that these flaws would not lead to the gun discharging on its own and emphasised that it was the only weapon fired on that particular day.
The judge found it unusual that the defendant, who served as the police team lead at the checkpoint, was the only individual present at the scene who claimed not to have heard the loud gunshot that other eyewitnesses had reported.
The judge said: ‘The deceased was shot at close range and hit through the back windshield.’
‘The defendant was the only armed person to shoot from the right side as the other officer on the left wasn’t armed.’
‘None of the eye witnesses saw him actually shoot, but that would have been near impossible. The best a witness can do is to see him point the gun and to hear a gunshot.’
Hence, the court concluded that the defendant was guilty of a solitary charge of murder and imposed the sentence of death by hanging, which would continue until his life ends.
‘You will be hanged by the neck till you are dead,’ the court declared.