Policeman standing trial over murder of Lagos lawyer knows fate on April 3

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Policeman standing trial over murder of Lagos lawyer knows fate on April 3

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LAGOS—A Lagos High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square, yesterday, adjourned till April 3, 2023, for ruling in a no-case submission filed by a police officer, Drambi Vandi, charged with the murder of a Lagos-based lawyer.

Vandi is standing trial on a one-count charge of shooting the Lagos lawyer, Mrs. Omobolanle Raheem, to death on December 25, 2022, at Ajah area of Lagos.

The defendant had on arraignment pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him by the Lagos State government.

At the resumed hearing, yesterday, counsel to the defendant, Mr. Adetokunbo Odutola, adopted his final written address in a no-case submission filed on February 28.

Odutola in the address urged the court to dismiss the suit and discharge the defendant.

He claimed that the prosecution was not able to establish any prima facie case against the defendant.

Odutola argued that the ballistic report revealed that the gun did not match with the bullet that was shot.

He also argued that the pathologist who testified mentioned that the bullet penetrated from the left through the armpit while the prosecution had stated that the deceased was shot in the chest.

The defence concluded that with the instances mentioned and many others, the prosecution could not establish any case against the defendant.

In his submission, however, Lagos State Attorney-General, Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo, leading the prosecution, prayed the court to dismiss the defendant’s argument.

He argued among other things that the prosecution witnesses were able to establish that the defendant was the person who shot and killed the deceased.

Onigbanjo said the pathologist made it clear that the explosive force of a bullet discharged from an AK-47 rifle, was of the magnitude of thousands of fire hoses.

It would penetrate into the body, whether the individual shot at was standing or sitting.

After listening to the arguments, presiding Justice Ibironke Harrison adjourned the case until April 3, 2023, for a ruling.