The Lagos State High Court has sentenced Drambi Vandi, who fatally shot Bolanle Raheem, a Lagos-based lawyer, to death by hanging.
The judge Ibironke Harrison on Monday found the police officer guilty of murder.
“The court found the defendant guilty on one count of murder. You will be hanged by the neck till you are dead,”
reported how Drambi Vandi allegedly killed Mrs Raheem, an expectant mother, on Christmas Day in 2022 at the Ajah roundabout in Lagos.
The police officer is attached to the Ajiwe police division in the Ajah area of the state. He was suspended two days after the incident.
The state government had preferred one count of murder of the lawyer against the defendant and subsequently arraigned him.
Since the court trial started in January, the deceased’s husband, sister, police armourer, pathologist and seven others have testified against the defendant.
The prosecution tendered 27 exhibits
Mr Vandi was the only witness who testified in his defence.
In his testimony before the court, Mr Vandi told the judge that the bullet presented in court, which was said to have killed the deceased, did not come from the rifle he carried on the day of the incident.
He also claimed that he had never seen the bullet until it was tendered in court.
Following the pronouncement, Nigerians have continued to react to the pronouncement on Twitter.
Read some of the reactions:
Saddening to see anyone lose their life, but the death-by-hanging sentencing of killer cop Drambi Vandi is a welcome development.
Policemen who tell us "I'll shoot you and nothing will happen" need to start realising that something -- like death by hanging -- can happen.@Fisayo Soyombo
I hope it's not just a "Paper Sentence".._@Capello
Someone has to be there to make sure that the hanging is successful. Make dem no exchange am with another prisoner@AkanPatrick1
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