Metro
Slain Lagos Lawyer: Defendant Closes Defence
Published
11 months agoon
By
EditorA police officer, Drambi Vandi, who allegedly shot and killed a Lagos-based lawyer, Bolanle Raheem, on Christmas Day, closed his defence before a Lagos High Court, Tafawa Balewa Square on Wednesday.
Vandi is standing trial on a count charge of shooting and killing a Lagos-based lawyer, Mrs Raheem, on Dec. 25, 2022, in the Ajah area of Lagos.
At the resumed hearing, the defendant’s counsel, Mr Jude Ugwu, led him in evidence.
Vandi told the court that he had never come across the bullet that was shown in court as the alleged murder weapon.
He said that the bullet was not the same ammunition in his rifle on the day of the incident.
READ ALSO: Bolanle Raheem: Falz Sends Open Letter To Gov Sanwo-Olu
Vandi narrated how he attended a local training school where he learned about arms and ammunition.
He said that the police are always given training every five months on rifles to refresh their memories.
The defendant said it was in the training school that he learnt about the different types of rifles, pistols and ammunition.
The defendant counsel, however, requested the court to produce exhibit P11(a), the bullet and magazine containing six bullets which is exhibit P19.
The witness, therefore, told the court that a portion of P19 was a shell of an assorted rifle used in an 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.
“If you line up ten 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.
READ ALSO: Bolanle Raheem: Lagos State Takes Over Prosecution Of Killer Cop
“It must pass through at least four objects. This is not the ammunition in my rifle on Dec. 25, 2022.
“The rifle is automatic. To use this bullet, you must cork the rifle and anyone around that area will hear the noise of the cork,” the defendant said.
He said that 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.
Vandi claimed that he had never seen the bullet until it was tendered in court.
The witness also said that the exhibit was not the type of ammunition used by the police.
When cross-examined by the Director of Public Prosecution, Dr Babajide Martins, the witness said that on Dec. 25, 2022, he was on duty at Ajah underbridge.
The witness said that he was on duty with a rifle which had 25 rounds of ammunition.
READ ALSO: Bolanle Raheem: Sanwo-Olu Fumes, Vows Speedy Justice
He explained that he had signed and booked the rifle from the armourer.
He also told the court that he was not the only officer that was armed on that particular day.
Vandi also narrated how he was arrested, detained and how he wrote his statement after the incident.
“I wish the deceased is alive and I regret her death. May her soul rest in peace,” he concluded.
The defendant counsel had earlier announced to the court that the defendant was their only witness.
He, however, prayed 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.
Harrison, however, adjourned the case until July 13 for adoption of final written addresses.
You may like
Court Sentences Lagos Lawyer, Bolanle’s Killer, To Death By Hanging
Bolanle Raheem: Falz Sends Open Letter To Gov Sanwo-Olu
Raheem: IGP Recommends Suspension Of Lagos Killer Cop
Raheem: Shehu Sani Suggests Solution To Police Extrajudicial Killings
BREAKING: Killers of Pregnant Lawyer Faces Major Prosecution As Lawmakers Make 3 Strong Resolutions
Bolanle Raheem: Lagos State Takes Over Prosecution Of Killer Cop
Metro
VIDEO: Hundreds Of Abandoned Ikoyi Towers Illegal Occupants Get 48-hour Eviction Notice
Published
5 hours agoon
May 5, 2024By
EditorThe Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources has issued a 48-hour eviction notice to illegal occupants of the Ikoyi Towers in the Lagos Island area of the state.
The state Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, disclosed this during an inspection of the estate on Saturday.
In a post on X.com, Wahab stated that hundreds of undocumented residents were seen in the premises, which lacked sanitary provisions.
He added that they pose security and environmental threats to the state, hence the eviction notice.
Wahab wrote, “Abandoned Ikoyi Towers which we observed were housing illegal occupants posing a security threat to the environment and a nuisance to the state.
READ ALSO: VIDEO: Woman, Baby Involved In Lagos Car Accident
“An undocumented number of persons running into hundreds were seen on the premises with no sanitary provisions and whose daily activities could not be ascertained.
“They have been given a 48-hour vacation notice to leave the area.”
The commissioner further stated that the team also conducted an inspection to assess the enforcement of Osborne under bridge after the illegal structures harbouring several people were removed.”
Recall that on Wednesday that the state government discovered 86 partitioned rooms under the Dolphin Estate Bridge in Ikoyi, where tenants were said to be paying N250,000 per annum for the makeshift apartment.
Watch video below courtesy The PUNCH
𝐕𝐈𝐃𝐄𝐎: 𝐇𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐬 𝐎𝐟 𝐀𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐝 𝐈𝐤𝐨𝐲𝐢 𝐓𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐈𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐥 𝐎𝐜𝐜𝐮𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝟒𝟖-𝐇𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐄𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐍𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐞
The Lagos State Ministry of Environment and Water Resources has issued a 48-hour eviction notice to illegal occupants… pic.twitter.com/yrd5e2SS95
— Punch Newspapers (@MobilePunch) May 4, 2024
Metro
5-year-old Girl Allegedly Defiled, Mother Demands Justice
Published
5 hours agoon
May 5, 2024By
EditorA woman, Rita Ebirim, has demanded justice following the alleged defilement of her five-year-old daughter by her brother-in-law in Lagos.
The distraught mother, who spoke with our correspondent on Friday, explained that her estranged husband had filed a divorce on August 2, 2022, and while waiting for the trial, she was ordered by the court to allow the father to have access to their daughter.
Ebirim explained that her daughter was defiled during her second visit to her father by his brother.
She said, “One day in February last year, he came to pick her up for the first time in the morning and returned her in the evening. That day I sensed that something was wrong with my girl and I voiced my suspicion to my lawyer but he waved it off.
READ ALSO: Actor Arrested For Abduction, Defilement Of 14-year-old Girl
“The next time, he came to take her to visit him and she returned to me at night beyond the speculated time. Later, when I wanted to bathe her, she started crying, pushing my hands away, that I shouldn’t touch her ‘there’.
“When I asked her who touched her there she told me her uncle touched her.
Ebirim said when she called her daughter’s father, he said he didn’t do anything to her and immediately told her to take the girl to the hospital “knowing full well that it was late at night”.
“I took her to two hospitals and after she was examined, the doctors said she had bruises on her private parts, that she had been sexually molested,” she added.
READ ALSO: Father Defiles 12-year-old Daughter
Suspect remanded for allegedly defiling three-year-old daughter
Sunday Special learned that the case was reported to the Ketu police station and also the Lagos State Sexual and Domestic Violence Agency.
“Although the suspect was arrested, he was later released on bail, and up till now, we are still awaiting a hearing in court. The case has needlessly dragged on and it feels that justice is elusive,” Ebirim added.
Giving an update on the case, the Executive Secretary of the DSVA, Titilola Vivour-Adeniyi, in a chat with our correspondent, disclosed that a forensic interview had been conducted for the child and that the case had been referred to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.
She said, “The agency received a report of an alleged case of defilement on February 20, 2023, against one X. It was alleged that Mr O has allegedly abused her sexually during her visit to Mr O.”
READ ALSO: Court Remands Man For Alleged Defilement Of 7-year-old Girl
Vivour-Adeniyi further said the agency immediately referred the case officially to the Ketu divisional police station on the same day.
“The case was also referred to State CID, Panti, on February 21, 2023, where investigations were conducted with all parties involved. Two officers from the agency were also assigned to support the survivors’ mother at the police station.
“The agency subsequently referred the case to Cece Yara Child Advocacy Centre for a forensic interview to be conducted. The forensic interview was successfully conducted in April 2023. The case file was forwarded to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions for legal advice,” she added.
PUNCH
A woman, her toddler and a motorcyclist popularly known as Okada rider were reportedly involved in a car accident on the Festac Link Bridge in the Ammuo Odofin Local Government Area of Lagos State on Saturday night.
It was gathered that the incident occurred on Saturday night around 11:00pm.
Joshua Davids, who witnessed the accident, said, “What really happened at Amuwo Link Bridge, tonight’s accident, is that the car, the driver hit a woman and a baby on her back. So actually, they have rushed the woman and the baby to the hospital.
READ ALSO: Ex-Delta Gov, Ibori Mourns Passing Of Former Minister, Gbagi
“The driver is safe because there is an airbag. There is protection for him in the car. So he is safe now and he has already rushed the woman and her baby to the hospital.
When asked about the Okada rider, he said, “They have also rushed him to the hospital. The three of them are unconscious. I was walking down from the back, from the backside. I was also coming from Festac, so I saw everything that happened. He also almost hit me.”
David, who showed his injury in a video, added, “I have to save myself. I have to. If not, what would I be saying by now? I thank God for my life. Thank God. Thank you very much.”
READ ALSO: Why I Refused To Return Govt Vehicles – Ex-Edo Gov, Shaibu
Another witness who spoke anonymously to our reporter said, “I was on my way home, I had a loud sound coming from the top of the bridge. I rushed down and saw a woman with her toddler on the ground. The bike rider seemed unconscious.
Narrating what might have happened that led to the crash, he said, “The vehicle had double-crossed his lane and jumped into the other lane coming towards Festac and had hit the Okada rider, and the Okada rider was carrying a woman and her toddler.
“She had injuries on her legs I asked her where she felt pain, and she said her head mostly. The driver who drove the car was okay and rushed the victims to the hospital.”
The police had yet to reach the venue of the incident as of the time of filing this report.
𝐉𝐔𝐒𝐓 𝐈𝐍: 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐧, 𝐛𝐚𝐛𝐲 𝐢𝐧𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐋𝐚𝐠𝐨𝐬 𝐜𝐚𝐫 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭
A woman, her toddler and a motorcyclist popularly known as Okada rider were reportedly involved in a car accident on the Festac Link Bridge in the Ammuo Odofin Local Government Area of… pic.twitter.com/3uBNaLhrBf
— Punch Newspapers (@MobilePunch) May 4, 2024
Details later…
VIDEO: Hundreds Of Abandoned Ikoyi Towers Illegal Occupants Get 48-hour Eviction Notice
Coastal Highway: DStv, GOtv Customers To Experience Service Disruptions
12 Years After: Ex-Eagles, Fans Celebrate Late Yekini
Trending
- Politics4 days ago
Why Candidate Who Needs Interpreter Can’t Be Edo Gov – Shaibu
- News4 days ago
Ex-policeman Who filmed Wife Having Wex With Her Superior Found Guilty Of Stalking
- News3 days ago
Why Abia Policeman Dropped His Rifle, Uniform, Walked Away From His Job – Report
- News5 days ago
JUST IN: FG Approves Salary Increase For Civil Servants
- Metro4 days ago
Police Foil Cult Initiation In Edo, Arrest 35 Suspects
- Metro4 days ago
Mother Of Four Hacked To Death By Neighbour, Son In Edo
- Metro4 days ago
Outrage As Masquerades Brutally Flog Nurse Until She Falls In Gutter In Enugu [PHOTOS]
- News3 days ago
JUST IN: Police Arrest Mastermind Of Abuja-Kaduna Train Attack
- News5 days ago
Tinubu, GEJ, Abdulsalami Abubakar, Others To Grace Igbinedion University 25th Anniversary
- Politics4 days ago
Edo Poll: Youth Leader Tackles Orbih, Shaibu Over Anti-Ighodalo Stance, Wants Them Suspended