LateBolanle Raheem: “Her car was flagged because it didn’t have plate number “, Police witness tell court.

The trial of police officer, ASP Drambi Vandi, accused of killing Lagos lawyer, Bolanle Raheem, started at the Lagos State High Court January 16, with the first prosecution witness.

It was reported that Inspector Matthew Ameh testified in court that police conducting a stop and search flagged down the deceased lawyer’s family vehicle because it lacked a license plate number.

Ameh testified in court under the direction of Senior Advocate of Nigeria and Attorney General of Lagos, Moyosore Onigbanjo, that when the vehicle was stopped, Vandi, the patrol team’s commander, was behind while he was in the middle, and another teammate was in front.

According to the witness, his colleague who was in front was the first person to flag the car down but the car did not stop. 

““I also flagged down the car, the car did not stop for me. The car is a Toyota vehicle and it had no plate number. I saw people in the car. I don’t know how many people were in the car because it did not stop.”Ameh told the court

If the vehicle lacked a number plate or if he simply failed to notice one, the Attorney General pressed him for clarification. “It had no number plate.”

“After that the next thing I heard was a gunshot. I looked back to see what was happening, I saw a car in which the windscreen was falling down. 

“The next thing, I saw is that one dark woman jumped down from the vehicle, she held SUPOL Vandi and she said ‘Oga you have killed my sister’.

“The next thing, they entered the car and they all zoomed off.” he added.

The witness further stated that, in contrast to Vandi and the other officer, he was unarmed.

Ameh testified in court that he and his colleague returned to the office after the car sped away with Inspector Vandi, without knowing where he was.

“Later the DPO brought back inspector Vandi with the patrol before taking them to Panti. The incident occurred around 1pm on the faithful day.” he said Under cross-examination by counsel.

Adetokunbo Odutola, the witness repeated that he did not know the number of people riding in the car because the car didn’t stop for a search. 

Additionally, he repeated his prior statement that the deceased family’s car was unregistered. The witness further stated that the family did not pose a threat to the police patrol unit.

After giving his testimony, the witness was released, and the court continued the case on January 25 and 26.

The court also mandated that the case be heard more quickly.

Vandi was charged on a single count of murder charges prior to the hearing.

The charge reads;“that you ASP Drambi Vandi on the 25th day of December 2022, at Ajah Road long the Lekki Expressway, Lagos unlawfully killed one Omobolanle Raheem by shooting the deceased in the chest contrary to Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.” 

The defendant, however entered a not guilty plea after hearing the charge.