MICHAEL AKINOLA
A Court in Lagos has ordered ASP Drambi Vandi to remanded in custody over the alleged murder of Bolanle Raheem on Christmas Day.
P.M.EXPRESS reports that the suspect, ASP Vandi, appeared before the Chief Magistrate Court, Yaba, a day after the Police Service Commission approved his suspension over the killing of Mrs. Raheem.
The charge against him read, “That you ASP Drambi Vandi on the 25th day of December 2022, at Ajah Road, along the Lekki Expressway, Lagos, unlawfully killed one Omobolanle Raheem by shooting the deceased in the chest”.
With the charge, the Attorney General, who appeared before the Chief Magistrate Court, Yaba, applied for the remand of ASP Vandi pursuant to Section 264 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos, 2015.
The Attorney-General appeared with the Solicitor General of Lagos State, Ms. Titilayo Shitta-Bey; the Director of Public Prosecutions, Dr. Babajide Martins; the officer in charge of Legal Nigeria Police Force, Lagos State Command, Yetunde Cardoso, for ASP Vandi.
The Attorney General told Chief Magistrate, Adeola Olatunbosun, that the basis for the remand is to allow the Police conclude its investigations into the matter.
The Magistrate granted the request to remand the defendant at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre and ordered that the case file be duplicated and sent to the Director of Public Prosecution, Dr. Jide Martins, for legal advice.
She then adjourned to January 30, 2023 to await legal advice.
The Command’s Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, made the disclosure in a tweet on his official Twitter handle.
Hundeyin, a Superintendent of Police tweeted: “Drambi Vandi was, this morning, arraigned in Court and has been remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Center until January 30, 2023 to give room for DPP’s advice.”
This comes a day after the Police Service Commission approved ASP Vandi’s immediate suspension.