It is no news that the death of Mr. Raheem, a lawyer, on Christmas Day 2021 in Lagos, Nigeria, was attributed to the actions of a police officer named Olalekan Olakunle. And incident sparked outrage from the Nigerian public, including the Nigeria Bar Association, the umbrella body of all lawyers in Nigeria, with many calling for justice for the victim.

Today, the Lagos High Court, criminal division, sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) in Lagos Island is set to rule on a "no case submission" filed by the criminal defence attorney representing the suspended ASP Drambi Vandi, who is accused of killing Lagos-based lawyer, Omobolanle Raheem, on Christmas Day.

The ruling was reserved by the presiding judge, Honourable Justice Ibironke Harrison, after the defence attorney, Mr Adetokunbo Odutola, filed and argued his no-case submission on behalf of his client on February 20, 2023, seeking dismissal of the case and discharge of the defendant on the grounds of having no case to answer. And this was presumed the assumption that the prosecution has failed to establish a prima-facie case against his defendant.

The defence attorney, by his no-case submission, argued that the protection has failed to prove the criminal allegation against the defendant as none of the eyewitnesses saw the defendant shoot the deceased.

He also argued that the ballistic report of the gun allegedly fired did not match any firearms recovered from the police officers at the scene. Additionally, the defence attorney contended that the evidence-led and the exhibits tendered during the presentation of the prosecution's case did not present a compellable or prima facie case that would warrant the defendant to enter his defence.

However, the prosecution, led by the Attorney General of Lagos State, Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), urged the Honourable Court to dismiss the no-case submission filed by the defendant and order him to enter a defence and defend himself.

The learned silk vehemently posited that the prosecution has successfully established the criminal allegation against the defendant and that there is a prima facie case against him.

He contended that the defendant has failed to counter or establish that he did not shoot and kill the deceased. Rather, the defendant is seeking to get off on technical grounds having failed to destroy the mountain of evidence against him.

Following the arguments presented by both parties, Justice Harrison postponed the matter until April 3rd for ruling.

It is worth noting that on January 16th, the Lagos State Government began prosecuting Vandi by calling its first witness, Inspector Matthew Ameh, a police officer who was present at the crime scene.

Prior to this, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice personally led the prosecution and arraigned Vandi on a one-count charge of murder on December 28th, three days after the incident.

The charge alleged that Vandi had shot Raheem in the chest, which is an offence contrary to Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Vandi pleaded not guilty to the charge. On February 15th, the prosecution closed its case against the defendant after calling eleven witnesses, including police officers, the husband and sister of the deceased, the ballistician, and the pathologist, Dr. Oluwaseun Williams.

Ok

How can u commit such a terrible act and lie that u are not guilty in court... fear police oo.. whenever u hear police is ur friend.... abeg run oooo

Death sentence or life imprisonment

Happiest Birthday Sir @litigator
More Life and Blessings ❤️🎉