Justice Ibironke Harrison of a Lagos High Court has sentenced a police officer, Drambi Vandi, to death by hanging for shooting a Lagos-based lawyer, Omobolanle Raheem, on the last Christmas Day.
Mr Vandi was arraigned on January 16 on a count of murder, but he pleaded not guilty.The court granted an accelerated hearing on the case.
The Lagos government alleged that the defendant shot Ms Raheem in the chest on December 25, 2022, at Ajah Roundabout on Lekki Expressway, Lagos State.
The murder contravenes Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The prosecution team, led by attorney general Moyosore Onigbanjo, called 11 witnesses, including eight police officers.
The other prosecution witnesses are two eyewitnesses and a pathologist.
Among the prosecution witnesses is Insp Matthew Ameh, who allegedly worked with the defendant at the time of the murder.
The prosecution closed its case on February 25, and on February 28, the defendant, through his counsel, Gbenro Gbadamosi, filed an application, praying the court to quash the charge against him.
Mr Gbadamosi argued that the evidence of the prosecution witnesses was inconsistent and did not link the defendant to the alleged murder.
On April 3, the court, however, dismissed the no-case submission.
Justice Ibironke Harrison held that the prosecution established sufficient oral and documentary evidence linking the defendant to the alleged crime, which required an explanation from him.
Ms Harrison added that evidence from the defendant would shed light on what happened.On May 31, the defendant gave evidence and closed his case.
His counsel had told the court that Mr Vandi was the sole defence witness.
On July 13, the parties adopted their written addresses, and the court reserved judgment until October 9.
