The burial rites of a female legal practitioner, Bolanle Raheem, who was shot dead on Christmas day has been suspended indefinitely owing to certain critical legal procedure.
This was disclosed by the treasurer of the Section on Public Interest & Development Law (SPIDEL), of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Funmi Adeogun, who is also a member of the Olive Tree Parish of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
According to Adeogun, new dates will however be communicated in due time.
The burial ceremony was scheduled to begin at 4 pm today with a wake keep at the Olive Tree Parish of the RCCG while the service was scheduled to hold tomorrow at the same venue.
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When Channels Television’s judiciary correspondent, Shola Soyele reached out to Mrs Adeogun to ask what critical legal procedure necessitated the cancellation of the burial plans, she confirmed that the NBA had requested to see the autopsy report from the medical team which examined the late Bolanle Raheem.
The NBA’s Publicity Secretary, Habeeb Lawal, also confirmed that “there’s an understanding with the family that the autopsy report should be out before our colleague is interred. We feel it is better, in case there will be a need for a second opinion”.
The NBA is seeking to review both the autopsy and ballistic report expected to be used at the trial of the alleged killer cop, Drambi Vandi.
Last Thursday, the President of the NBA, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Yakubu Maikyau, led some members of the national executive and some senior members of the bar to commiserate with the family of the late lawyer.
The team also visited the police & the Lagos State Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Moyosore Onigbanjo, who restated his commitment to ensuring speedy dispensation of justice for the family of late Raheem.
A Magistrate Court in Lagos State, on Friday, remanded ASP Drambi Vandi at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre over the alleged murder of a lawyer, Mrs Omobolanle Raheem, on Christmas Day at Ajah Roundabout in the state.
The Attorney General of the state, Mr. Moyosore Onigbanjo, appeared at the Yaba Magistrate Court before Chief Magistrate C.A. Adedayo for the suspect’s remand proceedings. (Watch Video Here)
According to the Lagos State Ministry of Justice, the remand proceeding was filed pursuant to Section 264 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2015 (as amended).
“The remand request had attached to it one count of Murder contrary to Section 223 of the Criminal Law Ch. C17 Vol. 3 Laws of Lagos State, 2015, an affidavit deposed to by O.R. Saliu (Ms) an Assistant Director in the Ministry of Justice and the copy of the statement of the Suspect ASP Drambi Vandi,” the ministry stated.
“The Chief Magistrate granted the request of the Honourable Attorney-General and ordered the remand of the Suspect for the first 30 days in line with the provision of the law pending further investigation by the Police. (Watch Video Here)
“The Court directed the Police to forward the duplicate case file to the office of the DPP and adjourned the case to 30th of January, 2023 for the review of the remand Order and report on the Legal Advice by the DPP.”
The Attorney General appeared with the Solicitor General of Lagos State, Ms. Titilayo Shitta-Bey; the Director of Public Prosecutions, Dr. Babajide Martins; Deputy Director, Adebayo Haroun; O/C Legal Nigeria Police Force, Lagos State Command, Y.O. Cardoso; and Assistant Director, O.R. Saliu, while Moses Jah-Nissi appeared for ASP Drambi Vandi.
Earlier this week, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, recommended Vandi’s suspension to create an enabling environment for necessary legal procedures to uphold justice in the case without interference. (Watch Video Here)
The Police Service Commission (PSC) approved the suspension, directing that the final investigation into the matter be concluded to enable the commission to take further necessary action
The Lagos State Attorney-General, Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN, on Friday filed a one-count charge against ASP Drambi Vandi for the murder of Mrs Bolanle Raheem.
Vandi appeared before the Chief Magistrate Court, Yaba, a day after the Police Service Commission approved his suspension over the killing of Mrs Raheem. (Watch Video Here)
The charge, obtained by Channels TV’s judicial correspondent Shola Soyele, read, “That you ASP Drambi Vandi on the 25th day of December 2022, at Ajah Road, along 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.”
With the charge, the Attorney General, who appeared before the Chief Magistrate Court, Yaba, applied for the remand of the defendant pursuant to Section 264 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos, 2015.Watch Video Here)
While the Attorney-General appeared with the Solicitor General of Lagos State, Ms. Titilayo Shitta-Bey; the Director of Public Prosecutions, Dr. Babajide Martins; the officer in charge of Legal Nigeria Police Force, Lagos State Command, Yetunde Cardoso, ASP Vandi.
The Attorney General told Chief Magistrate, Miss Adeola Olatunbosun that the basis for the remand is to allow the police conclude its investigations into the matter.
The magistrate granted the request to remand the defendant at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre and ordered that the case file be duplicated and sent to the Director of Public Prosecution, Dr. Jide Martins for legal advice. Watch Video Here)
She then adjourned to January 30, 2023 to await legal advice.
Earlier, the Inspector General of Police (IGP), Usman Alkali Baba, recommended Vandi’s suspension to create an enabling environment for necessary legal procedures to uphold justice in the case without interference.
The IGP, in a statement by the Force spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said the suspension of the Assistant Superintendent of Police, is to ensure that justice Watch Video Here) prevails in the matter.
“The suspension is without prejudice to the constitutional presumption of innocence in favour of the officer.
“The IGP has reaffirmed the commitment of the Force to the Rule of Law and assured the public of his administration’s commitment to ensuring that justice is not just done but seen to have been manifestly done in the matter,” the IGP said. Watch Video Here)
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Femi Falana, has tasked Nigerian lawyers to ensure that the death of the Lagos-based legal practitioner, Mrs Bolanle Raheem is not in vain.
Raheem was shot dead on Christmas Day in the Ajah area of the state. Her killing has sparked outrage from many Nigerians. (Watch Video Here)
The situation has forced the Police Service Commission to suspend an Assistant Superintendent of Police, Drambi Vandi, the trigger-happy cop said to have been the brain behind the killing.
In a statement, Falana condemned the murder and asked the Nigerian Bar Association to mobilise the masses in ending police brutality in Nigeria. (Watch Video Here)
“Nigerian lawyers must ensure that Mrs Bolanle Raheem does not die in vain like others who were dispatched to their untimely graves before her,” he stated.
“Indeed, the best tribute that the NBA can pay to the deceased is to use her cold-blooded murder to mobilise the Nigerian people to end police brutality in Nigeria.
“To start with, police checkpoints must be removed from Nigerian roads. The roads should be patrolled by combined teams of officers from the police and road safety commission.” (Watch Video Here)
He also called on the Nigeria Police to strictly regulate the use of arms by policemen on duty according to the service rules.
According to the human rights lawyer, non-lethal options such as batons, tear gas, water etc should be employed in dispersing crowds.
See the full statement below:
HOW LAWYERS CAN MOBILISE NIGERIANS TO END POLICE BRUTALITY
By
Femi Falana SAN
The Nigerian Bar Association has condemned the brutal killing of one of its members, Mrs Bolanle Raheem, in Lagos on December 24, 2022, by a trigger-happy policeman. The suspect has been arrested and detained pending his arraignment for murder in the Lagos State High Court. The Inspector-General of Police, Mr Usman Alkali Baba and Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, have decried the killing and assured the Nigerian people that justice would be served speedily. To demonstrate the abhorrence of the Government, the Attorney-General of Lagos State, Mr Moyosore Onigbanjo SAN will lead to lead the prosecution team. (Watch Video Here)
President Muhammadu Buhari has expressed shock and complete disapproval of the horrendous killing, even though it is a common phenomenon under his administration. In the same vein, the presidential candidates of the leading political parties have berated the Nigeria Police Force over the killing. It is however curious to note that these political leaders have not informed Nigerian voters how they intend to end the extrajudicial killing of unarmed citizens by the police and other security agencies in the county if they win the 2023 presidential election.
The cruel killing of Mrs Bolanle Raheem provides an opportunity for the Nigerian people led by lawyers to address the root (Watch Video Here) cause of the extrajudicial killing of unarmed citizens by law enforcement officers. On July 15, 1981, Dele Udo, a United States-based athlete and a potential world beater in the 400 metres was shot dead by a trigger-happy policeman at Ojuelegba in Lagos State. That was the beginning of the reckless shooting of unarmed citizens by armed policemen and armed soldiers on the roads.
Since then, hundreds of young people and other citizens have been killed in illegal checkpoints manned by drunk police and military personnel. The huge amount of money extorted from motorists via the checkpoints is allegedly shared by police and military officers. Hence, the cancellation of checkpoints by successive Inspectors- General of Police has never been faithfully enforced. (Watch Video Here)
It is pertinent to note that despite the demand of the human rights community for fundamental reform of the curriculum of the police academy the training of police cadets has remained as brutish as it was under the British colonial regime. Upon their graduation, the recruits usually unleash violence on a society that had dehumanised them in the police academy. Having been brutalised themselves, they derive pleasure in subjecting suspects to physical, mental and psychological torture. During the interrogation of a suspect, it is not uncommon for a policeman to threaten that “I will kill you and nothing will happen.”
No doubt, the Nigeria Police Force is a neo-colonial institution in every material particular. It is deliberately called a police force and not a police department or police service. The logo of the force pictures an eagle standing on two crossed staves above an elephant. Like an elephant the colonial police force was set up to mow them down the natives, suppress and extort taxes from them to service British imperialism. (Watch Video Here)
In 1960, the nationalist politicians who inherited political power from the British colonial regime decided to retain the police force and use it to oppress the people. Hence, the killing of unarmed citizens by police and military personnel is not punished by the violent neocolonial State. Even monetary damages awarded by courts for unlawful killing of citizens and other forms of human rights abuse by police officers are never paid.
Indeed, the payment of monetary damages awarded by courts is frustrated by Attorneys-General who refuse to grant leave to garnish the accounts of the Federal and State Governments. As if that is not bad enough, some Attorneys-General file nolle prosequi applications to terminate criminal cases involving highly connected murder suspects. (Watch Video Here)(Watch Video Here) The legal departments of the police is ever prepared to defend the unlawful killing of citizens by trigger-happy police personnel. Thus, the police personnel indicted for extrajudicial killings are promoted until they retire while a few of them had risen to the highest echelon in the force.
Whenever there are protests against the unlawful killing of citizens by police personnel the Government moves to douse tension by setting up judicial or administrative commissions of inquiry to probe the remote and immediate causes of the civil disturbance. But the recommendations of such panels are usually ignored by the Governments. For instance, after the endsars protests in October 2020, the Federal Government and 28 out of the 36 state governments instituted judicial commissions of inquiry to probe various allegations of police brutality.
After two years, the reports of the judicial panels have not been published by the majority of the state governments. The few that issued white papers have not fully implemented the recommendations of the judicial panels. Apart from payment of some monetary damages, the police officers indicted by the panels have not been prosecuted. Consequently, the brutalisation of the Nigerian people by the police and other security agencies has continued unabated.
Even though the notorious Special Anti Robbery Squad (SARS) was disbanded in line with the demand of the #EndSARS protesters. In replacing the SARS with SWAT, the authorities promised that the operatives would undergo a retraining programme. As the retraining did not occur the SWAT officers have continued to terrorise and intimidate the people unabashedly, like the SARS. The implication of such official impunity is that the very many police officers indicted for extrajudicial killing of suspects and other citizens have been allowed to remain in the police force to continue to perpetrate their nefarious activities.
Not too long ago, thousands of professional armed robbers and armed political thugs bribed and were recruited to the Nigeria Police Force. When a former President became aware of the scandalous recruitment, he ordered that the uniformed armed robbers be identified and flushed out of the Police. It is regrettable to note that the police authorities did try to do so but did not succeed in weeding out all the criminal elements from the police force.
On a regular basis, kidnap, murder and terror suspects are paraded by police commissioners. But majority of the suspects are extrajudicially executed after the parade. The police claim that those who were charged with grave offences before the High Courts in the past and who were freed on technical grounds turned round to attack and kill the police officers who had arrested them. So, instead of prosecuting armed robbery and other dangerous criminal suspects they are extrajudicially killed by untrained executioners in the force.
The suspects are usually shot in the back to give the impression that they were trying to escape from police custody. Thus, it is difficult to sue the police service commission for the illegal killing of suspects that have been “wasted” by the police. After the execution, no post-mortem is conducted while the bodies of the deceased are buried by the police at night. The money and other assets seized from the suspects are never returned to the family members or friends of the deceased but shared among police officers.
Without any rehabilitation for the untrained executioners, they are unleashed on the society with their guns. The uniformed murderers then turn round to use their weapons to kill members of the public including their own relations. Thus, the brutal killing of poor citizens by police and other security operatives has become a routine occurrence. But we only complain whenever the unlicensed police executioners kill lawyers, doctors, journalists and other victims whose killings trigger protests!
In exasperation, Mr. Boms Worgu, a former Attorney-General of Rivers State, has said that, “The Banabas Igwes of the NBA assassinated pair we remembered the other day. That was long ago. Recently, less than two years, there was Henry Ndionyenma Nwankwo, matcheted by still to be apprehended men, right there in his chambers. In PHC recently, two colleagues were similarly dispatched. And many more. In all, nothing happened after they were mowed down except wailing and condemnations. Soon, sadly though, this addition will blow over, calm will return only for the calm to be disrupted by another killing! That is how we are.”
Nigerian lawyers must ensure that Mrs Bolanle Raheem does not die in vain like others who were dispatched to their untimely graves before her. Indeed, the best tribute that the NBA can pay to the deceased is to use her cold-blooded murder to mobilise the Nigerian people to end police brutality in Nigeria. To start with, police checkpoints must be removed from Nigerian roads. The roads should be patrolled by combined teams of officers from the police and road safety commission.
The use of arms by policemen on duty should be strictly regulated according to the service rules. No lethal options such as batons, tear gas, water etc should be employed in dispersing crowds.
In Femi Falana v Chief of Army Staff & Ors (Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1939/19), the presiding Judge, the Honourable Railwan Aikawa, estrdeclared that the involvement of armed soldiers in the maintenance of internal security is illegal and unconstitutional. On the basis of the judgment, all checkpoints manned by soldiers should be dismantled by the Chief of Army Staff without any further delay.
In the recent case of the State Security Service v Godwin Emefiele (Suit No.FHC/ABJ/CS/2255/2022), the Federal High Court assigned and determined the case within two days because it pertained to the personal liberty of the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria. The NBA leadership should prevail on the Chief Judge of the Federal High Court and heads of other courts to ensure that all fundamental right cases are promptly assigned and expeditiously determined regardless of the class status of the applicants.
The Anti -Torture Act of 2017 prescribes that any police officer or law enforcement officer who subjects a citizen to torture is liable to be tried and if convicted to imprisonment for 25 years. If any person dies as a result of torture the police officer indicted is liable to be tried for murder. The NBA should direct its human rights committees to take up all cases of torture meted out to citizens by public and private individuals in society.
The NBA should prevail the Federal Government and State Governments to publish the reports and implement the recommendations of the judicial panels. Otherwise, the NBA should adopt legal measures to compel the Governments to implement the recommendations. Furthermore, the NBA should mount pressure on state governments to enact laws for the establishment of human rights bodies for the purpose of protecting the human rights of citizens. This was the principal resolution adopted by the National Economic Council after the #EndSARS protests.
As a matter of urgency, the NBA should ensure that a legal practitioner is assigned to every police station to monitor human rights compliance in accordance with section 66 (3) of the Police Establishment Act 2020. The human rights committees of the 128 branches of the NBA should liaise with the National Human Rights Commission and the Legal Aid Council to ensure the observance of human rights in the country.
The NBA should collaborate with State Attorneys-General towards the successful prosecution of police and military personnel who engage in the extrajudicial killing of criminal suspects and other citizens. At the same time, the unlawful killing of police officers by military officers and criminal gangs should always be challenged by Nigerian lawyers.
The NBA should liaise with the police and military authorities to ensure that human rights course is made a compulsory subject in all police colleges and military academic institutions. This is the best way to ensure that members of the police and armed forces recognise their constitutional responsibilities to protect the life and property of every citizen.
Finally, it is submitted that unless the above suggestions are implemented by the relevant stakeholders in alliance with the Nigerian people the callous killing of Mrs Bolanle Raheem will only be an addition to the long list of Nigerians that have been killed so recklessly by security forces. And it will be enormously tragic for society.
The Nigerian Bar Association says it will seek the payment of damages not less than N5bn in addition to the swift prosecution of the cop culpable in the killing of a Lagos-based lawyer, Bolanle Raheem.
A Senior Advocate of Nigeria and human rights lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa made this known in a statement on Thursday. (Watch Video Here)
Adegboruwa urged Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to follow the model that he adopted during the EndSARS Judicial Panel to pay compensation to Raheem’s family.
Read full statement:
PRESS RELEASE
NBA TO MONITOR TRIAL OF KILLER COP, SEEK COMPENSATION FOR FAMILY OF THE DECEASED
The Nigerian Bar Association, Lagos Branch, is to monitor the trial of ASP Drambi Vandi, the policeman that shot and killed Mrs. Omobolanle Raheem in Lagos on December 25, 2022. The Association will also press for monetary compensation for the family of the deceased by the relevant government agencies. This was disclosed in a press statement released by Lagos Lawyer and human rights activist, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, SAN. (Watch Video Here)
Nigerians woke up to the shock of the death of Mrs Raheem who was shot in the Ajah area of Lagos inside her car on her way back from an outing with her family. The Chairman of the Nigerian Bar Association, Lagos Branch to which Mrs. Raheem belongs, Mr. Ikechukwu Uwana, contacted Mr. Adegboruwa to lead the team of lawyers for the NBA that will monitor the trial of the killer Cop.
The NBA Lagos in conjunction with the President of the Nigerian Bar Association, Mr. Y.C. Mikyau, SAN, has decided to be part of the prosecution of the policeman as part of its efforts towards securing quick and effective justice for the family of the deceased. In this regard, the NBA will be partnering with the Ministry of Justice during the trial. Mr. Adegboruwa has in turn obtained relevant briefing from the Hon Attorney-General of Lagos State and has secured the assurances of an accelerated prosecution once the case file is received from the police. (Watch Video Here)
The NBA is also seeking monetary compensation for the family of Mrs Raheem from the government of Lagos State, the Federal Government and indeed the Ngieria Police Force and the Police Service Commission, through its Human Rights Committee. The NBA will seek for payment of damages not less than five billion naira in addition to the prosecution of the killer Cop.
Mr. Adegboruwa has in addition urged Governor Babajide Sanwoolu to follow the model that he adopted during the EndSARS Judicial Panel to pay compensation to the family of Mrs. Raheem immediately since it is an established fact that her life was terminated illegally by a policeman. Mr. Adegboruwa also called for the immediate implementation of the EndSARS Judicial Panel Report in which far-reaching recommendations were made in relation to: (Watch Video Here)
1. Psychological orientation for all police officers in the handling and use of weapons; 2. Training for police officers on basic human rights observance and enforcement; 3. Improving the welfare of all police officers in terms of their take home pay, conditions of service, their places of work and residences in order to make them more conducive; 4. Recruitment of more police officers to reduce the pressure upon the existing officers whose number is not adequate to effectively police the country. (Watch Video Here) Mr. Adegboruwa stated further that it is unacceptable that the issues that led to the 5 for 5 demands of the youths and the EndSARS protests in 2020 have not been addressed despite repeated promises from the government. He urged the government and the relevant authorities to go beyond mere press statements of lamentations on the gruesome murder of Mrs. Raheem and to accelerate the prosecution of the killer and payment of compensation to the family of the deceased and all other victims of police brutality. (Watch Video Here)
The Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has recommended the suspension of Drambi Vandi, the trigger-happy Assistant Superintendent of Police who killed a Lagos-based lawyer, Bolanle Raheem.
Raheem was shot dead on Christmas Day by Vandi who was attached to Ajiwe Police Station in Ajah. The cop and his team were said to have tried to stop (Watch Video Here) Raheem and her family members as they drove back home from a church service.
Raheem was shot when the car she was in tried to make a U-turn under the Ajah Bridge. The victim was rushed to a hospital but was confirmed dead.
The IGP, in a statement by the Force spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, noted that the “suspension is also expected to create an enabling environment for necessary legal procedures to uphold justice in the case without interference.” (Watch Video Here)
“The suspension is without prejudice to the constitutional presumption of innocence in favour of the officer.
“The IGP has reaffirmed the commitment of the Force to the Rule of Law and assured the public of his administration’s commitment to ensuring that justice is not just done but seen to have been manifestly done in the matter.
“He, therefore, appeals to the public to be calm as all hands are on deck to ensure justice prevails while measures have been put in place to prevent future occurrences.” (Watch Video Here)
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has reiterated commitment to ensure justice for the family of Bolanle Raheem, who was shot dead by a policeman on Christmas Day.
Sanwo-Olu, sent a delegation, yesterday, to console the family at their home in Ajah. (Watch Video Here)
Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyo Onigbanjo, SAN, said, “We have the permission of Mr Governor to tell you that justice will be done in this matter. The matter will be charged to court as soon as the police send us the case file.
“I will be leading the prosecution to show the seriousness the government attaches to this matter.”
Special Adviser on Innovation and Technology, Tubosun Alake, on-behalf of Mr. Governor, urged (Watch Video Here) the family to take heart. He prayed that The Almighty would console the family.
The husband of the late Bolanle, Mr Gbenga Raheem, thanked Mr Sanwo-Olu for his empathy.
Also in the delegation were Head of Service, Muri Okunola, who signed the condolence register on behalf of the government, Women and Poverty Alleviation Commissioner, Mrs Bolaji Dada and Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso. (Watch Video Here)
Gbenga, the husband of a Lagos-based female lawyer, Bolanle Raheem, who was shot dead by a trigger-happy Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) on Christmas day in Ajah, has narrated how his wife was killed.
𝕹𝖔𝖇𝖑𝖊 𝕽𝖊𝖕𝖔𝖗𝖙𝖊𝖗𝖘 𝕸𝖊𝖉𝖎𝖆 reports that Nigerians on social media are horrified and outraged as an ASP shot dead Bolanle in Ajah area of Lagos State on Christmas Day. (Watch Video Here)
The policeman attached to the Ajiwe Divisional police station and his team were said to have tried to stop Raheem and her family members as they drove back home from a Christmas Day church service.
Raheem, it was gathered, was shot when the family’s car tried to make a U-turn under Ajah Bridge.
The victim was rushed to a hospital (Watch Video Here) but was confirmed dead.
According to a voice recording from one of the lawyers who visited the deceased’s family, the victim’s husband, Gbenga, explained: “On December 25, my wife, nieces, nephews, and cousins, who had come for the holiday, all went to church. On our way back, my wife said since it was Christmas Day, we should take everyone out, so, we went to a supermarket at Abraham Adesanya, then to Domino’s Pizza.
“After that, we headed towards Ajah to do a U-turn to come back to Abraham Adesanya. When we took the U-turn, we saw policemen stopping some vehicles. As we approached them, they said we should stop, and in the process, we heard a loud sound on my wife’s side window. All of a sudden, I saw blood gushing out of her chest. (Watch Video Here)
“I immediately ran out; my sister-in-law, who was also with us, ran out and held the policeman; he cocked his gun at her too. Talking to him was pointless, so I went to see if anything could be done; I saw my wife gasping for breath, and by that time, my sister-in-law had brought the policeman into the car and pushed him into the front seat.
“We drove to a hospital but they said they couldn’t handle it; we eventually took her to Grandville Hospital, where she was confirmed dead. The policemen took her body and put it in the truck; they wanted me to follow them but I said I needed to go and settle my children.” (Watch Video Here)
The suspects in the alleged extrajudicial killing of a Lagos-based lawyer, Bolanle Raheem, will be charged to court soon, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice in Lagos State, Moyo Onigbanjo.
He made this known on Tuesday when he visited the victim’s family in the Ajah area of the state, according to a statement by the state Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso. (Watch Video Here)
“We have the permission of Mr Governor to tell you that justice will be done in this matter. The matter will be charged to court as soon as the police send us the case file. I will be leading the prosecution to show the seriousness the government attaches to this matter,” said Onigbanjo, who represented Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu.
Raheem was shot dead on Christmas Day by a trigger-happy Assistant Superintendent of Police, Drambi Vandi, who was attached to Ajiwe Police Station in Ajah. The cop and his team were said to have tried to stop Raheem and her family members as they drove back home from a Christmas Day church service. (Watch Video Here)
Raheem was shot when the car she was in tried to make a U-turn under the Ajah Bridge. The victim was rushed to a hospital but was confirmed dead.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has since said the “killer” of Raheem must be swiftly prosecuted and justice be immediately served.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Baba, who described the incident as unfortunate and sad, ordered a speedy investigation and prosecution of the officers responsible for the ugly and unprofessional act. (Watch Video Here)
The police also said they will carry out a reappraisal of their rules of engagement in a bid to put an end to such ugly incidents.
The killing of Raheem is one of the many incidents of police brutality and extrajudicial killings that have been recorded in Lagos and other parts of Nigeria time after time. A resident of Happy Land Estate in Ajah, Gafaru Buraimoh, was similarly shot dead by a cop from the Ajiwe Police State on December 6, 2022.
Raheem’s killing (Watch Video Here) comes just over two years after police extrajudicial killings sparked a nationwide outrage that culminated in the #EndSARS protests of October 2020 when millions of youths demanded police reforms, compensation for families of victims, and punishment for trigger-happy policemen.
Already, many lawyers and voices of the #EndSARS protests have condemned the killing of Raheem and demanded justice.
President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday night condemned the “heinous and senseless” killing of Omobolanle Raheem, a member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), shot by on-duty policemen on Christmas Day.
Buhari said he was deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the brutal killing of Raheem. (Watch Video Here)
The President also directed the police authorities to take “the strongest possible action” against the culprits already detained.
This was disclosed in a statement by Garba Shehu, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, on Tuesday.
Buhari said this incident is a stark reminder of the recurring menace of the mishandling of weapons and a wakeup call to law enforcement (Watch Video Here) agencies, including the Police, to ensure the full implementation of reforms instituted by the administration on the subject of weapons handling as well as the protection of the rights of citizens.
“In this hour of grief, the nation stands in solidarity with the bereaved family and the NBA. I assure you that justice will be done in this case,” the President said. (Watch Video Here)
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on Monday identified the police officer who killed a lawyer, Mrs Omobolanle Raheem in Ajah, Lagos.
Channels Television had earlier reported the shooting incident that occurred on Sunday. The unnamed policeman attached to the Ajah Police Station and his team were said to have tried to stop Raheem and her family members as they drove back home from a Christmas Day (Watch Video Here) church service.
The lawyer was shot when the car she was on tried to make a U-turn under the Ajah Bridge. While the incident has sparked widespread criticism, the Lagos State Police Command has said an assistant superintendent of police (ASP) and two other officers are currently in custody over the incident.
However, in a statement, NBA’s National Publicity Secretary, Akorede Habeeb, said the officer has been identified as “Drambi Vandi”, an assistant superintendent of police. (Watch Video Here)
“Since this terrible incident, the NBA has taken the initiative to uncover the facts surrounding the murder of our member,” the statement reads.
“In this regard, the NBA is able to report that the Lagos state police command has confirmed that the suspected murderer of our member is one ASP Drambi Vandi, an officer, who has been in the police service for 33 years!”
NBA’s Resolve Apart from condemning the killing, the NBA President condoled with Raheem’s family. (Watch Video Here)
Mr Maikyau prayed for the repose of the soul of Mrs Raheem and urged all members and concerned Nigerians to maintain their calm as we ensure the law takes its course.
Also, the NBA has resolved to be a complainant in the case along with her family.
“The NBA President has in this regard constituted a team comprising of National Officers, Chairman and Vice Chairperson of NBA Lagos Branch and Chairman of NBA Ikeja Branch with a mandate to follow up and ensure a speedy but thorough investigation of this crime,” the statement said.
The NBA is also aware of an earlier incident involving the Ajiwe police station and is concerned about that. (Watch Video Here)
It said, “In the course of NBA’s engagement with police authorities over this deadly incident, the NBA confirmed that on or about 7th December, 2022 another young man described as Gafaru Buraimoh who was innocently on his way to buy fuel was murdered in Ajah in a similar manner as our member by a police officer attached to the now notorious Ajiwe Police Station.
“The NBA is disturbed that the Nigerian Police seems to be back to the dark days of police brutality and admonish that the lessons from the #EndSARS Protest should not be lost on any individual or authority.”
The NBA assured members of the association that “the NBA will not only get to the root of this incident, we will uproot it and take steps to deal with anyone found culpable in every lawful way. We will ensure that this does not happen to any citizen anymore.” (Watch Video Here)
Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu has condemned the killing of Lagos-based female lawyer, Bolanle Raheem in the Ajah area of the state on Christmas Day.
Raheem was shot when the car she was on tried to make a U-turn under the Ajah Bridge. The victim was rushed to a hospital but was confirmed dead. (Watch Video Here)
The Governor in a statement on Monday by his Chief Press Secretary, Gboyega Akosile, expressed shock and sadness over the mindless shooting of “a harmless citizen” by a police officer whose primary job function was to protect the same citizen.
Sanwo-Olu commiserated with the family, friends and associates of the victim, pledging his administration’s full support and cooperation with the police authorities in their investigation to unravel the remote and immediate cause of the shooting, that led to the untimely death of the innocent citizen, with a view to ensuring that justice is served. (Watch Video Here)
“I have studied preliminary reports on the matter and have instructed the appropriate Government officers to immediately get on it. We must ensure a speedy justice for the late Bolanle. Our government cannot sit back and watch our citizens killed by the same law enforcers that should ordinarily protect them,” the governor was quoted as saying.
“I’m aware that the Lagos State police command have arrested, disarmed and detained the police officers involved in the shooting incident. I can assure you that the accused persons will have their day in Court and nothing will be spared under the Laws of Lagos State until justice is served adequately. We will ensure that it is done speedily because justice delayed is justice denied.” (Watch Video Here)
The governor however appealed to residents to remain calm and not take the law into their hands on the matter, assuring Lagosians that the government will live up to her responsibilities and get justice for the late Bolanle Raheem.
He also prayed for the repose of the late Bolanle Raheem’s soul, asking God to grant her immediate family and friends the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss. (Watch Video Here)
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has condemned the shooting and killing of Mrs Omobolanle Raheem, a lawyer who was allegedly shot and killed by a policeman attached to Ajiwe Police Station, Ajah, Lagos State.
In a statement on Monday, the IGP, who described the incident as unfortunate (Watch Video Here) and sad, ordered speedy investigation and prosecution of the officers responsible for the ugly and unprofessional act, which he emphasized does not portray the Nigeria Police standard operating procedure and core values.
In the same vein, the IGP commiserated with the family, friends, and colleagues of the deceased as he prays for the repose of her soul.
He further assured the general public of justice in the case while he warns officers and (Watch Video Here) men of the Force to be professional and people-oriented in the discharge of their duties and operate within the ambit of the law, as the Force’s leadership will not condone any inappropriate or unprofessional acts.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on Monday condemned the killing of one of its members by a trigger-happy cop in the Ajah area of Lagos State.
The NBA said the “killer” of Bolanle Raheem must be swiftly prosecuted and justice be immediately served. (Watch Video Here)
Raheem was shot dead on Christmas Day by a policeman attached to Ajiwe Police Station in Ajah.
The Chairman of the Lagos Branch of the NBA, Ikechukwu Uwanna said he has been in touch with the Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alabi who “assured us that the investigation and prosecution of the killer of Mrs. Raheem will be swift”.
“The NBA President, Mr. Y. C. Maikyau SAN, and his Exco have also been monitoring the situation to ensure that the matter is given all the serious attention it deserves,” Uwanna said in a statement, and added that the victim’s body had been deposited at the morgue. (Watch Video Here)
“Members of our NBA Lagos Branch Human Rights Committee led by Mrs. Tam George have met with the DPO of Ajiwe Police Station, and will meet with the Commissioner of Police later today to emphasize our mandate of ensuring that justice is neither delayed nor denied. The committee members have also proceeded to visit the family of our slain member as at the time of releasing this statement.
“I urge us all to take a moment today to pray for the repose of the soul of our slain colleague, and that God will console her husband and family members.” Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Baba has condemned the shooting and killing of Raheem. (Watch Video Here)
“The IGP, who described the incident as unfortunate and sad, has ordered speedy investigation and prosecution of the officers responsible for the ugly and unprofessional act, which doesn’t portray the Nigeria Police Standard Operating Procedure and core values,” Force Public Relations Officer, Olumuyiwa Adejobi said in a statement on Monday.
“In the same vein, the IGP commiserates with the family, friends, and colleagues of the deceased as he prays for the repose of her soul.
“He further assures the general public of justice in the case while he warns officers and (Watch Video Here) men of the Force to be professional and people-oriented in the discharge of their duties and operate within the ambit of the law, as the Force’s leadership will not condone any inappropriate or unprofessional acts.”
Popular comedian, Adebowale Adedayo also known as Mr Macaroni has bemoaned the level of insecurity in Lagos State under the present governor of the state, Babajide Sanwo-Olu. (Watch Video Here)
Mr. Macaroni expressed his displeasure with the descent of insecurity in the state when reacting to the death of a female lawyer, Bolanle Raheem who was shot dead by a policeman in the Ajah area of Lagos state on Christmas Day.
The skitmaker called out the governor for not being able to control the level of oppression, brutality, and extra-judicial killings plaguing the state. (Watch Video Here)
He tweeted, “Dear Governor Babjide Sanwo-Olu, the level of insecurity, oppression, brutality and extra-judicial killings since you became governor has worsened. You don’t control the police? Ok. But you are the chief security officer of the state. What are you doing about it sir?”
Reacting to the incident earlier via his Twitter handle, the Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, said the officer responsible for the killing and others have been taken into custody. (Watch Video Here)
He said, “Unfortunate and avoidable incident that was. The ASP that shot and two others with him have since been taken into custody. They are to be moved to the SCID for further investigation.
“The Lagos State Police Command condoles with the family, friends and colleagues of Barrister Bolanle Raheem.
“The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Abiodun Alabi, has been in touch with the family and the Nigerian Bar Association since yesterday and has given firm assurances that justice will definitely prevail.” (Watch Video Here)
The statement from the state PRO, however, seemed not to have gone down well with Macaroni who replied, “If it was a civilian that the police accused of a crime, even before proven guilty, you will give us their names, even snap pictures or make videos after beating them up. Keep protecting yours.
“I pray that all our oppressors will answer for their crimes against humanity one day,” he added. (Watch Video Here)
Lagos state police command has confirmed the arrest and detention of its officer that killed a female lawyer, Bolanle Raheem.
Bolanle was killed yesterday while trying to make a U-turn under Ajah Bridge. Bolanle took her family to an eatery for Christmas celebration, after which she was pursued by a cop who shot at her vehicle. (Watch Video Here) The bullet got her and she was rushed to a near by hospital where she gave up the ghost.
Reacting to the incident via his Twitter handle, the Police Public Relations Officer, Lagos State Command, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, said the officer responsible for the killing and others have been taken into custody.
His words: “Unfortunate and avoidable incident that was. The ASP that shot and two others with him have since been taken into custody. They are to be moved to the SCID for further investigation. (Watch Video Here)
“The Lagos State Police Command condoles with the family, friends and colleagues of Barrister Bolanle Raheem.
“The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Abiodun Alabi, has been in touch with the family and the Nigerian Bar Association since yesterday and has given firm assurances that justice will definitely prevail.” (Watch Video Here)
The Lagos State Police Command has urged Lagosians to remain calm, saying the Command will ensure justice prevails in the extrajudicial killing of a lawyer, Bolanle Raheem.
The Command’s spokesman, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, in a statement, expressed condolences to the family of the victim who was shot dead by a trigger-happy police officer in the Ajah area of Lagos on Christmas Day. (Watch Video Here)
The police spokesman described as embarrassing, the incident, being the second in three weeks. A resident of Happy Land estate in Ajah, Gafaru Buraimoh, was similarly shot dead by a policeman on December 6, 2022.
Hundeyin said the Nigeria Police Force will carry out a reappraisal of its rules of engagement in a bid to put an end to such avoidable ugly incidents. (Watch Video Here)
Read full statement:
LAGOS STATE POLICE COMMAND CONDOLES WITH FAMILY, FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES OF BARRISTER BOLANLE RAHEEM
The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command, CP Abiodun Alabi, fdc has expressed heartfelt condolences to the family, friends and colleagues of Barrister Bolanle Raheem who was shot dead by a police officer in Ajah on Sunday, December 25, 2022.
On the instruction of the Commissioner of Police, the errant officer has since been taken into custody alongside his team members. The CP has equally directed that the case be transferred to the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba for in-depth investigation. (Watch Video Here)
This has become one too many, especially bearing in mind that a similar incident occurred at the same location less than three weeks ago. The condemnable incident is against the standard operating procedures (SOP) and rules of engagement of the Force, and to say the least is embarrassing.
Beyond this incident, the Nigeria Police Force will carry out a reappraisal of its rules of engagement in a bid to put an end to such avoidable (Watch Video Here) ugly incidents.
The Lagos State Police Command hereby appeals to the good people and residents of Lagos State to remain calm as the Command is already in constant touch with the Nigerian Bar Association and other relevant stakeholders towards ensuring that justice totally prevails.
SP BENJAMIN HUNDEYIN, anipr, mipra POLICE PUBLIC RELATIONS OFFICER LAGOS STATE COMMAND IKEJA
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