A High Court in Lagos, Nigeria has sentenced a policeman to death by hanging after he was found guilty of killing Raheem’s pregnant wife, Omobolanle.
The ruling was welcomed by the victim’s family that noted with concern that justice has prevailed.
During the hearing of the case, the court was told that Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Drambi Vandi shot Omobolanle in the presence of her husband Gbenga at Ajah checkpoint on December 25, 2022.
As a result, the court found the defendant guilty of murder charges and directed that he will be hanged in the neck until he dies.
“You will be hanged by the neck till you are dead,” declared the Judge at a High Court in Tafa Balewa Square (TBS), Lagos.
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While ruling the case, Justice Harrison noted that the prosecution had proved beyond doubt that the policeman shot the woman.
He added that eyewitnesses also gave overwhelming circumstantial evidence against the policeman.
“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.
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In his defence, Vandi denied the charges and told the court that the loud gunshot heard by the eyewitnesses was that of a firecracker.
At the same time, the defence counsel told the court that the ballistic report of the gun allegedly fired expressly stated that the bullet cannot be linked with any of the firearms recovered from the police officers at the scene.
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The killing of Omobolanle, who was pregnant by then, caused an uproar in Lagos, leading to the arrest and charging of Vandi with murder.
He was charged with murder in line with provisions of section 223 of the criminal law of Lagos State, 2015.
