A Lagos State High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square annex, Igbosere, has fixed October 9 for judgment in the murder trial of Lagos lawyer, Bolanle Raheem.
Justice Ibironke Harrison fixed the date after both parties have closed their case.
Drambi Vandi, a suspended Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), is standing trial for allegedly shooting a 41-year old pregnant realtor at the Ajah under bridge checkpoint, on December 25, 2022.
The Defence Counsel, Jude Ugwu, had relied on all the paragraphs of the written address in support and adopted same as the argument for the case of the defence, urging the court to discharge the defendant.
Ugwu informed the court that the defendant’s final written address was filed and dated June 20, 2023, and in response to the prosecution’s written address, a reply on points of law was filed on July 12, 2023.
He relied on all the paragraphs of the written address in support and adopted same as the argument for the case of the defence, urging the court to uphold the argument and discharge the defendant.
Ugwu argued that the case of the prosecution is based on hearsay and circumstantial evidence and was not compelling enough to convict the defendant.
The prosecution, led by Dr. Babajide Martins, informed the court that the prosecution’s written address was filed on July 5, 2023. He relied on all the arguments therein and prayed the court to convict the defendant.
He urged the court to disregard issues raised by the defence in its final written address and reply on points of law.
Martins said the issues about contradictions raised by the defence are not fatal. He said: “The ballistician’s evidence in court did not exonerate the defendant and never mentioned that the bullet did not emanate from the gun of the defendant.
“The ballistician mentioned during his testimony in court that the bullet was so damaged and shattered, making it difficult for identification.
“The testimonies by PW6 and PW7 respectively directly testified against the defendant, directing the court’s attention to the IPO’s (PW7) testimony, to the effect that the sister and husband to the deceased held on to the defendant after the shooting, and the fact that he was seen taking cover under the staircase of the hospital without his uniform and wearing mufti.
“PW6 testified that the defendant asked him for one ammunition after the incident.”
The prosecution argued that the action taken by the defendant to fire the ammunition was deliberate and direct in killing the deceased.
In his testimony, the defendant told the court that the bullet presented in court, said to have killed Raheem did not come from the rifle he carried on the said day. He also claimed that he had never seen the bullet until it was tendered in court.
“It must pass through at least four objects, and this is not the ammunition in my rifle on December 25, 2022. The rifle is automatic. By using this bullet, you must cork the rifle and anyone around that area will hear the noise of the cork.
“Once it is fired, the shell will fall on the right side on the ground near the person that fired it and it will remain at the point of fire. The noise will be so loud when fired.
“I’ve never come across this exhibit before even all through my training and it’s not the type of ammunition used by the police,” the defendant said.”
