Shortly after allegedly shooting lawyer Bolanle Raheem of Lagos on Christmas Day, Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Drambi Vandi discovered that two of the 25 rounds of ammo in his Ak-47 weapon were missing.
Vandi’s coworker Adamu Shuaibu testified before the Lagos State High Court at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) that when he took the Ak-47 from another cop who disarmed Vandi, he observed a scarcity of bullets.
At the Ajiwe Police Station, Ajah Division, Lagos, where Vandi worked, Shuaibu was the armorer on duty.
At the restarted hearing for the murder accusation against Vandi, he provided testimony while being led in as evidence by Lagos State Attorney-General Moyosore Onigbanjo, SAN.
Mrs. Raheem was allegedly shot by Vandi on December 25 in the vicinity of Ajah Underbridge in Lagos.
She was four months along with her twin pregnancy.
Vandi was charged with one count of murder in violation of Section 223 of the Lagos State Criminal Law of 2015 by the Lagos State government.
ASP Vandi shot Omobolanle Raheem (F) in the chest on December 25, 2022, at the Ajah roundabout along the Lekki-Epe Expressway in Lagos, according to the Lagos Judicial Division.
Vandi made a not-guilty plea.
The witness claimed during his testimony before Justice Ibironke Harrison that on December 25, Inspector Ameh Matthew, one of the officers present at the scene of the incident, called him to let him know that the defendant (Vandi) had shot a pregnant woman.
He stated: “The DPO (Divisional Police Officer) led a patrol unit to the scene after I informed him of what had transpired. To bolster the station, I summoned every station guard.
The defendant gave me his firearm as soon as he saw me leave the office, and I later saw Drambi Vandi and Supol Segun holding it.
“I removed Inspector (Fiyegha) Ebimine’s AK-47 gun from his person before examining his magazine. When I investigated the defendant’s gun, I discovered that only 23 rounds had been located, and two were missing, despite the fact that the eight rounds of ammunition he had booked were full.
As soon as I had him in the cell, he started crying when I asked what had happened.
When Onigbanjo inquired if he could name the register he used to keep track of the weapons and ammo as of December 25, the officer said that he could. He pointed out the registration as well.
Mr. Adetokunbo Odutola, the defense attorney, questioned the witness during cross-examination and asked him to describe what he did with the firearms after receiving them.
Adamu claimed that he verified the quantity of ammunition after gathering both firearms.
The firearms were then immediately delivered by him and the station officer to Panti’s State Crime Investigation Division (SCID).
He added that the DPO had ordered Vandi’s custody after being disarmed before heading to the hospital, so he didn’t count the shots in the defendant’s presence.
He continued by saying how intense the anxiety was at the moment.
The witness also described the process involved in returning a firearm to the armorer.
“The standard practice when you return a gun is that, in the presence of the person I got it from, I will bring out the magazine and count the ammunition and then sign after confirming.”
Justice Harrison postponed the trial until February 9 so it could continue.
