Late Bolanle Raheem?s family posed no threat when Vandi shot – Policeman tells court

The trial of Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Drambi Vandi over the 2022 Christmas Day killing of a Lagos-based lawyer, Bolanle Raheem, continued on Wednesday, January 25, at the Lagos state High Court with a second prosecution witness, Fiyegha Ebimine who is a police officer, testifying.

Ebimine was part of the three-man team led by Vandi from the Ajiwe police station who were conducting a stop and search operation under the Ajah Bridge on the day of the incident.

Led in evidence by the prosecuting team by the Lagos state Commissioner of Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo, Ebimine corroborated the account of the shooting by the first prosecution witness, Inspector Matthew Ameh, saying he also heard a “noise” shortly after the deceased and her husband slowly drove past him and Ameh in a Toyota Venza.

“One woman was in the passenger seat, a man was driving. I flagged the vehicle down. It didn’t stop. They passed me. I wondered why. He was not speeding. Ameh also flagged him down but he didn’t stop,” Ebimine said

He said shortly after, he heard “a gunshot from the back. I asked Ameh, ‘What is going on?’ A female passenger in the vehicle where the deceased was hit rushed to ASP Vandi and accused him of killing jet sister.”

Responding to questions from Onigbanjo, the witness said the Venza late Raheem and her family posed no threat to him or the public when it drove past.

“As the Toyota Venza drove past, was there any threat to your life?”Onigbanjo asked

Responding, Ebimine said

“No, no, no, no.”

Then Onigbanjo asked;

“As the Venza approached, was there any threat to the general public?”

Responding, Ebimine said

“No, they were peaceful there.”

The witness, who earlier stated that he was armed, denied firing his weapon.

During cross-examination, counsel to the defendant, Adetokunbo Odutola, told the court of his intention to visit the scene of the crime, he says this would help him understand the count of the police officers better. He also added that he was yet to receive the ballistics report for the weapon and ammuntion allegedly used by ASP Vandi.

Justice Harrison advised the lawyer to make a formal application and adjourned till today January 26 for continuation of trial.