Omobolanle Raheem: ASP Vandi Appears In Court, Remanded For 30 Days As Falana Tasks Lawyers
A Magistrate Court in Lagos State, on Friday, remanded ASP Drambi Vandi at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre over the alleged murder of a lawyer, Mrs Omobolanle Raheem, on Christmas Day at Ajah Roundabout in the state.
Raheem was shot dead on Christmas Day in the Ajah area of the state. Her killing has sparked outrage from many Nigerians.
The situation has forced the Police Service Commission to suspend an Assistant Superintendent of Police, Drambi Vandi, the trigger-happy cop said to have been the brain behind the killing.
The Attorney General of the state, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, appeared at the Yaba Magistrate Court before Chief Magistrate C.A. Adedayo for the suspect’s remand proceedings.
According to the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, the remand proceeding was filed pursuant to Section 264 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2015 (as amended).
“The remand request had attached to it one count of Murder contrary to Section 223 of the Criminal Law Ch. C17 Vol. 3 Laws of Lagos State, 2015, an affidavit deposed to by O.R. Saliu (Ms) an Assistant Director in the Ministry of Justice and the copy of the statement of the Suspect ASP Drambi Vandi,” the ministry stated.
“The Chief Magistrate granted the request of the Honourable Attorney-General and ordered the remand of the Suspect for the first 30 days in line with the provision of the law pending further investigation by the Police.
“The Court directed the Police to forward the duplicate case file to the office of the DPP and adjourned the case to 30th of January, 2023 for the review of the remand Order and report on the Legal Advice by the DPP.”
The Attorney General appeared with the Solicitor General of Lagos State, Ms. Titilayo Shitta-Bey; the Director of Public Prosecutions, Dr. Babajide Martins; Deputy Director, Adebayo Haroun; O/C Legal Nigeria Police Force, Lagos State Command, Y.O. Cardoso; and Assistant Director, O.R. Saliu, while Moses Jah-Nissi appeared for ASP Drambi Vandi.
Nigerian Lawyers Must Ensure Omobolanle Raheem Did Not Die In Vain – Falana
Meanwhile, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Femi Falana, has tasked Nigerian lawyers to ensure that the death of the Lagos-based legal practitioner, Mrs Bolanle Raheem is not in vain.
In a statement, Falana condemned the murder and asked the Nigerian Bar Association to mobilise the masses in ending police brutality in Nigeria.
“Nigerian lawyers must ensure that Mrs Bolanle Raheem does not die in vain like others who were dispatched to their untimely graves before her,” he stated.
“Indeed, the best tribute that the NBA can pay to the deceased is to use her cold-blooded murder to mobilise the Nigerian people to end police brutality in Nigeria.
“To start with, police checkpoints must be removed from Nigerian roads. The roads should be patrolled by combined teams of officers from the police and road safety commission.”
He also called on the Nigeria Police to strictly regulate the use of arms by policemen on duty according to the service rules.
According to the human rights lawyer, non-lethal options such as batons, tear gas, water etc should be employed in dispersing crowds.
