POLICE officer, Drambi Vandi, who allegedly shot and killed Lagos-based lawyer, Mrs. Omobolanle Raheem, on Christmas Day last year, has closed his defence before a Lagos High Court in Tafawa Balewa Square, saying: “I wish the deceased is alive and I regret her death.”
Vandi is standing trial on a count charge of shooting and killing Mrs. Raheem on December 25, 2022, at Ajah area of Lagos State.
At the resumed hearing, Vandi, led in evidence by his Counsel, Mr. Jude Ugwu, told the court that he had never come across the bullet that was shown in court as the alleged murder weapon, insisting the bullet was not the same ammunition in his rifle on the day of the incident.
Vandi narrated how he attended a local training school, where he learned about arms and ammunition, adding that Police are always given training every five months on rifles to refresh their memories.
He said it was in the training school that he learned about the different types of rifles, pistols and ammunition.
His Counsel, however, requested the court to produce Exhibit P11(a), the bullet and magazine containing six bullets, which is Exhibit P19.
The Police officer told the court that a portion of P19 was a shell of an assorted rifle used in AK-47 rifle, noting that the exhibit was used in a long range bullet.
He explained that the bullet shown in court could cover over 500 metres, adding: “If you line up 10 people, this particular bullet will go through all of them.
“When it is shot at a close range, it can’t remain inside the person’s body and any object at close range; it must penetrate through it. It must pass through at least four objects. This is not the ammunition in my rifle on December 25, 2022.
“The rifle is an automatic. To use this bullet, you must cork the rifle and anyone around that area will hear the noise of the cork.”
He said immediately the rifle was fired, the shell would fall right on the ground near the person that fired it and would remain at that point, claiming that he had never seen the bullet until it was tendered in court.
Vandi also told the court that the exhibit was not the type of ammunition used by the police.
On cross-examination by the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Dr. Babajide Martins, the witness said that on December 25, 2022, he was on duty at under the bridge in Ajah with a rifle that had 25 rounds of ammunition.
He explained that he signed and booked the rifle from the armourer, but was not the only officer that was armed on that particular day.
Vandi, while narrating how he was arrested, detained and how he wrote his statement after the incident, said: “I wish the deceased is alive and I regret her death. May her soul rest in peace.”
His Counsel had earlier announced to the court that Vandi was their only witness, praying the court to give them 21 days to file and adopt their written addresses.
After listening to evidence, Justice Ibironke Harrison directed the parties to exchange their written addresses.
The Judge thereafter adjourned the case until July 13, 2023 for adoption of final written addresses.
