Bolanle Raheem: Lagos AG files murder charge against ASP Drambi Vandi

Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, the Attorney General of Lagos State, on Friday charged ASP Drambi Vandi with one count of murdering Mrs. Bolanle Raheem.

A day after the Police Service Commission accepted his suspension for the murder of Mrs. Raheem, Vandi made his appearance before the Chief Magistrate Court in Yaba.

The charge reads, “That you ASP Drambi Vandi on the 25th day of December 2022, at Ajah Road, along the Lekki Expressway, Lagos, unlawfully killed one Omobolanle Raheem by shooting the deceased in the chest contrary to Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.”

In accordance with Section 264 of the Lagos, 2015 Administration of Criminal Justice Law, the Attorney General, who appeared before the Chief Magistrate Court, Yaba, filed an application for the defendant’s remand with the charge.

In addition to the Director of Public Prosecutions, Dr. Babajide Martins, the Legal Nigeria Police Force’s Lagos State Command Officer in Charge, Yetunde Cardoso, and ASP Vandi, the Attorney General also made an appearance.

The purpose of the remand, the Attorney General explained to Chief Magistrate Miss Adeola Olatunbosun, is to allow the police to complete their inquiries into the incident.

The magistrate granted the plea to hold the defendant in custody at the Ikoyi Correctional Facility and ordered that a duplicate case file be made and delivered to Dr. Jide Martins, the Director of Public Prosecution, for legal counsel.

She then set a postponement for January 30, 2023 as she awaits legal counsel.

Usman Alkali Baba, the IGP, had earlier suggested suspending Vandi to foster an environment that would allow the required legal processes to be carried out without interruption.

The Assistant Superintendent of Police’s suspension, according to the IGP, is necessary to guarantee that justice is served in this case, according to a statement from the Force’s spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi.

The IGP said, “The suspension is without prejudice to the constitutional presumption of innocence in favour of the officer.

“The IGP has reaffirmed the commitment of the Force to the Rule of Law and assured the public of his administration’s commitment to ensuring that justice is not just done but seen to have been manifestly done in the matter.”

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