‘the policemen flagged down Bolanle’s vehicle and her husband slowed to allow the car in front of him to move so he would be able to park, when the murderer opened fire and killed her instantly’.
Lagos Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), will lead the prosecution team in the trial of the killer of Mrs. Bolanle Raheem.
Mrs. Raheem, a lawyer and expectant mother, was killed by a policeman on Christmas Day in Lagos while returning from church with her family.
The Lagos Police Command, through its spokesman, Benjamin Hundeyin, named the killer as Drambi Vandi an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) who has now been put in custody.
Speaking during the condolence visit by a team dispatched by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to the deceased residence, Mr. Onigbanjo said: “We have the permission of Mr. Governor to tell you that justice will be done in this matter.
“The matter will be charged to court as soon as the police send us the case file.
“I will be leading the prosecution to show the seriousness the government attaches to this matter.”
Special Adviser, Tubosun Alake, said the governor urged the family to take heart.
He prayed that The Almighty would console the family.
The husband of the late Bolanle, Mr. Gbenga Raheem, thanked Sanwo-Olu for his empathy.
Head of Service Muri Okunola signed the condolence register on behalf of the government.
Commissioners for Women and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Bolaji Dada, and Information and Strategy, Gbenga Omotoso, were also on the delegation led by the Lagos Attorney General.
Mrs. Raheem, a property lawyer, was allegedly shot in the chest at close range by a policeman who was on a stop-and-search operation at Ajiwe, Ajah on Christmas Day.
It was gathered that the lawyer was in the car driven by her husband on their way from the Christmas Day service when the incident occurred.
Bolanle’s murder occurred barely 17 days after an Inspector from the same Ajiwe Police Station killed a Point of Sale (POS) patron, Gafaru Buraimoh, while pursuing black market fuel sellers.
The lawyer’s younger sister said the policemen flagged down Bolanle’s vehicle and her husband slowed to allow the car in front of him to move so he would be able to park, when the murderer opened fire and killed her instantly.
The Police Service Commission (PSC) in a statement by the Head, Press and Public Relations Unit, Ikechukwu Ani, said: “PSC has received with shock the news of the unprovoked killing of a harmless Nigerian, a lawyer, Mrs. Bolanle Raheem, who was alleged to have been shot and killed by a policeman attached to Ajiwe Police Station Ajah, in Lagos State on Sunday, December 25, 2022.
“The Commission condemns this irresponsible and savage act.
“It directs that the police leadership should hasten investigation into the matter and forward its report to the Commission for consideration and further disciplinary action.
“The Commission also calls on the Police to put in place a formidable programme for further training of its men in weapon handling as the case of unprovoked shooting and killing of innocent Nigerians has become worrisome.
“The Commission notes that the police by its creation and constitutional mandate are expected to protect and save lives and not the other way round.
“The acting Chairman of the Commission, Justice Clara Bata Ogunbiyi, JSC, rtd, CFR, on behalf of the management and staff commiserate with the family of the deceased, especially her husband who was driving her home when they were accosted by the trigger happy policeman.”
