Bolanle Raheem: ASP Vandi couldn’t account for two bullets, witness tells court

“I took their AK47 rifles and examined the guns and out of 25 rounds of ammunition issued to Vandi, only 23 were accounted for. Two were missing.”

News Agency of Nigeria • February 8, 2023

Drambi Vandi

Drambi Vandi, the policeman who shot and killed a Lagos-based lawyer, Omobolanle Raheem, last Christmas could not account for two out of the 25 bullets issued to him on the day of the incident.

A police armourer, Adamu Shuaibu, a prosecution witness, gave the testimony on Wednesday at the resumed trial of Mr Vandi at the Lagos High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square.

He was led in evidence by the prosecution counsel, Lagos State Attorney-General, and Commissioner for Justice, Moyo Onigbanjo (SAN).

Mr Shuaibu told the court that he issued one AK47 rifle and 25 bullets to Mr Vandi on December 25, 2022, the day of the incident.

Other officers who worked with him on fateful day also booked AK47 rifles with eight rounds of live ammunition.

He told the court that one of the other officers, Ameh Matthew, called him at about 2:00 p.m. and informed him about the problem at “Ajah Under-Bridge’’, the scene of the incident.

Mr Shuaibu said he informed the divisional police officer about the development.

He added that after the divisional police officer who went to the scene returned with the officers, he retrieved the AK47 rifles but found that two of the bullets issued to Mr Vandi were missing.

“I took their AK47 rifles and examined the guns and out of 25 rounds of ammunition issued to Vandi, only 23 were accounted for. Two were missing.

“I immediately moved to the cell to speak with the defendant but he could not give an account of the two missing ammunitions. I then informed the DPO.”

The witness informed the court that the AK47 rifles had been taken to the State Criminal Investigation Department at Yaba, Lagos

A certified true copy of the station’s register indicating weapons movements was tendered in evidence.

Mr Vandi had earlier pleaded not guilty to the charge of murder preferred against him by the Lagos State government.

His defence counsel, Adetokunbo Oduntola, did not object to the tendering of the register as evidence.

During cross-examination by Mr Oduntola, the prosecution witness explained the procedure for returning arms and ammunition at the station.

Presiding Justice Ibironke Harrison adjourned the case till February 9 for the continuation of trial.

(NAN)

We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.