A Lagos State High Court sitting in Tafawa Balewa Square ordered a suspended Assistant Superintendent of Police, Drambi Vandi, to open his defence in a murder case. Vandi is accused of killing Lagos‑based lawyer Omobolanle Raheem on Christmas Day 2022. Justice Ibironke Harrison dismissed Vandi’s “no‑case submission,” finding that a prima facie case had been established against him, and therefore required him to present his defence.
Vandi faces a single count of murder brought by the Lagos State Government. He was arraigned on 16 January 2023 and pleaded not guilty. The prosecution alleged that Vandi shot the 41‑year‑old pregnant lawyer in the chest, contravening Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015. Eleven witnesses were called, including the deceased’s husband, Gbenga Raheem, eight police officers—some of whom were Vandi’s colleagues—and a pathologist. The prosecution closed its case on 15 February 2023.
Instead of opening his defence, Vandi sought to file a no‑case submission to quash the charge. The court adjourned the matter to 28 February to hear arguments on the submission, but the trial was stalled because Vandi did not appear, citing the aftermath of the presidential election held on 25 February. The case was then adjourned to 6 March. On that date, defence counsel Adetokunbo Odutola informed the court that Vandi’s no‑case submission was dated 20 February and filed on 28 February, while the prosecution’s reply was dated 24 February. Odutola urged the court to discharge Vandi, arguing that no eyewitness had seen him fire the weapon, the ballistic report could not link the bullet to any recovered firearms, and the pathologist’s testimony conflicted with the prosecution’s claim about the bullet’s entry point.
State Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN) countered, asserting that the prosecution had successfully made its case and that Vandi should be required to defend himself. The matter was adjourned to 3 April for a ruling.
On Monday, Justice Harrison dismissed the no‑case submission, holding that the prosecution had presented sufficient oral and documentary evidence linking Vandi to the crime, thereby creating a prima facie case that required his explanation. The judge clarified that the court was not assessing the credibility of the prosecution’s witnesses at this stage, nor was it examining whether the case had been proved beyond a reasonable doubt. She noted that some witnesses claimed to have seen Vandi shoot the victim and that his rifle was missing two rounds at the time of his arrest.
In response, defence counsel Gbenro Gbadamosi said the defence team would review the ruling and decide whether to appeal. Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions Dr Babajide Martins warned that an interlocutory appeal would not halt the trial under Section 273 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Laws of Lagos State and requested a date for the next hearing. Consequently, the case was adjourned to 16 May for Vandi to open his defence.
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