Reps demand justice for lawyer slain by policeman

The House of Representatives has demanded justice for a female lawyer, Omobolanle Raheem, who was killed by an Assistant Superintendent of Police, Drambi Vandi.

The police officer, who was attached to the Ajiwe Police Division, Ajah, Lagos State, shot the victim dead on Christmas Day while she was in a car with her family members.

At the plenary on Wednesday, members of the House observed one-minute silence in honour of Raheem and Gafaru Braimoh, another victim of extra-judicial killing by another policeman from the same division.

The lawmakers demanded “an immediate investigation be carried out to get justice for the two victims.”

They also resolved that “police officers should be banned from consuming alcohol and other hard substances capable of inhibiting their sense of reasoning and capability to carry out their duties judiciously.”

The House declared that there should be zero tolerance for misconduct in the Nigeria Police Force.

The resolutions were based on a motion of urgent public importance moved by the lawmaker representing Eti-Osa Federal Constituency in Lagos State, Babajide Obanikoro, titled, ‘Urgent Need to Investigate the Killing of Mrs Bolanle Raheem,’ which the lawmakers unanimously adopted.

Moving the motion, Obanikoro said, “The House notes that on Sunday, December 25, 2022, Mrs Raheem and her family were returning from church when they were pulled over in the Ajah area by officers of the Nigeria Police. Without any altercation, one of the officers, ASP Drambi Vandi, aimed and fired at Mrs Raheem on the spot. She was seven-month pregnant with twins.

“The House is concerned that the same incident happened earlier on December 7 by officers of the same Ajiwe Police Station, who gunned down a young man, Gafaru Braimoh, which sparked civil unrest.

“The House is worried that this type of occurrence happens often across Nigeria and the officers usually get away with the shooting and killing of the same innocent citizens they swore to protect.”

Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, has recommended the immediate suspension of Vandi.

The spokesperson for the Force, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, in a statement, said the suspension was in line with the internal disciplinary processes of the police.

Adejobi said, “The IG further noted that the suspension is expected to create an enabling environment for necessary legal procedures to uphold justice in the case without interference.

“The suspension is without prejudice to the constitutional presumption of innocence in favour of the officer.”

The spokesperson of the Police Service Commission, Ikechukwu Ani, said the commisiom would look into the recommendation of the IG and appropriate decision would be taken.