Justice Ibironke Harrison of the Lagos State High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square will on October 9 deliver judgment in the trial of suspended Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Drambi Vandi, the alleged killer of Lagos-based lawyer Mrs. Omobolanle Raheem.

Justice Harrison fixed the date for judgment after the prosecution team led by the state’s Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Babajide Martins and the defence counsel, Jude Ugwu, adopted their final written addresses on Friday.

The Lagos State government had arraigned Vandi before the court for allegedly shooting to death the 41-year-old pregnant lawyer at the Ajah underbridge checkpoint on December 25, 2022.

The defendant however pleaded not guilty to the one-count charge of murder contrary to Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Upon the close of the case of both sides, the Director of Public Prosecutions in the state, Babajide Martins and defence counsel Jude Ugwu informed the court that they were ready to adopt their final written addresses.

While adopting his client’s final written address, Ugwu urged the court to dismiss the charge because the case of the prosecution is based on hearsay, circumstantial evidence and is not compelling enough to convict the defendant.

But Martins urged the judge to the court to convict the defendant and disregard issues raised by the defence in its address and reply on points of law.

The DPP also argued that the issues of contradictions in the evidence of witnesses raised by the defence are not fatal and that they cannot occasion a miscarriage of justice.

He also maintained that the ballistician’s evidence in court did not exonerate the defendant and never mentioned that the bullet did not emanate from the defendant’s gun.

Martins further submitted that the ballistician mentioned during his testimony that the bullet was so damaged and shattered, making it difficult for identification.

Martins insisted that the testimonies of the sixth prosecution witness and the Seventh prosecution witness directly indicted the defendant.

He also directed the court’s attention to the Investigative Police Officer’s testimony, to the effect that the sister and husband to the deceased held on to the defendant after the shooting and the fact that he was seen taking cover under the staircase of the hospital without his uniform and wearing a mufti.
By Olugbenga Soyele
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