I’m Not Guilty, Police Officer Who Allegedly Shot Dead Lawyer On Christmas Day Tells Court

Drambi Vandi, a police officer who allegedly shot dead a Lagos based lawyer and a pregnant woman, Omobolanle Raheem on Christmas Day has pleaded not guilty to one count charge of murder filed against him by Lagos State Government.

Lagos State Government on Monday arraigned the suspended Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), Drambi Vandi, for alleged killing of Mrs Omobolanle Raheem on December 25, 2022.

Lagos State Government preferred a one-count charge of murder inline with Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015 against the suspect.

The suspended cop was arraigned before the Lagos State High Court, Tafawa Balewa Square annex.

According to Punch newspaper, after the charge sheet was read to him, Vandi pleaded not guilty to the murder charge.

It would be recalled that Omobolanle Raheem was allegedly shot dead by Drambi Vandi in the Ajah area of Lagos on Christmas Day.

It was said she was returning home with her family from a Church service when she was shot by the suspected police officer during stop and search police operation.

Drambi Vandi was arrested and brought before Chief Magistrate C.A. Adedayo on December 30, 2022, a day after the Police Service Commission approved his suspension.

The PUNCH reports that an Inspector of Police, Matthew Ahmen, who is a colleague of Drambi Vandi, told a Lagos State High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square on Monday that they were conducting a stop and search when the incident happened.

Accordingly, Matthew Ahmen said Vandi who was the leader of their team was behind while he was in the middle, and another colleague, Inspector Dimini, was in the front.

Adding, when Dimini saw a car coming, he flagged it down but the car didn’t stop, and when the car got to where he was standing, he also flagged the car down but the car didn’t stop as well.

Matthew Ahmen said, “The next thing I heard was a gunshot and I looked back to see what was happening and I saw that a windscreen was falling.

“The next thing I saw again was a dark woman who jumped down from the vehicle and I heard her saying that ‘oga you have killed my sister.’

“The woman held him and before I and Dimini could get to them, they had entered the car, locked it, and left.”