EXTRA-JUDICIAL KILLING: Sanwo-Olu Commiserated With Family Of Killed Lawyer, NBA Makes Demand

Babajide Sanwo-Olu, Lagos State Governor, has commiserated with the family of Omobolanle Raheem, a female lawyer who was allegedly killed by a trigger-happy police officer on Sunday.

Sanwo-Olu also appealed to residents to remain calm and not take the law into their hands on the matter, adding that the State Government will live up to its responsibilities and get justice for late Raheem.

The Governor in a post via his social media handles on Monday, said that he received the news of the death of the lawyer with “utter shock and sadness.”

Raheem was riding with her family on Christmas day when officers attached to the Ajiwe Police Division in the Ajah area of the State flagged their vehicle down.

One of the officers stationed under the Ajah bridge had reportedly pulled the trigger at their vehicle, which hit Raheem.

According to a statement by the State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin, the officer responsible for the shooting has since been taken into custody alongside his team members.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian Bar Association has asked the police to provide full details about the officer who shot and killed a lawyer, Mrs Omobolanle Raheem in Ajah, Lagos.

In a statement on Monday, the NBA condemned “the cold-blooded murder” of its member and demanded more information about the killing which has sparked outrage and condemnation as well as condolences by the police who say the officers involved have been arrested.

“While the NBA acknowledges the sympathy and regret of the police authorities over this incident, the NBA President has unequivocally demanded that the Nigerian Police officially disclose and immediately release to Nigerians the fuller details of the errant officer and other officers responsible for this heinous act,” the NBA said in a statement by its National Publicity Secretary, Akorede Habeeb Lawal.

From the NBA’s engagement with the police over the matter, the association said it was informed that “the suspected murderer of our member is one ASP Drambi Vandi, an officer, who has been in the police service for 33 years!”

Apart from condemning the killing, the NBA President condoled with Raheem’s family.

Mr Maikyau prayed for the repose of the soul of Mrs Raheem and urged all members and concerned Nigerians to maintain their calm as we ensure the law takes its course.

Also, the NBA has resolved to be a complainant in the case along with her family.

“The NBA President has in this regard constituted a team comprising of National Officers, Chairman and Vice Chairperson of NBA Lagos Branch and Chairman of NBA Ikeja Branch with a mandate to follow up and ensure a speedy but thorough investigation of this crime,” the statement said.

The NBA is also aware of an earlier incident involving the Ajiwe police station and is concerned about that.

It said, “In the course of NBA’s engagement with police authorities over this deadly incident, the NBA confirmed that on or about 7th December, 2022 another young man described as Gafaru Buraimoh who was innocently on his way to buy fuel was  murdered in Ajah  in a similar manner as our member by a police officer attached to the now notorious Ajiwe Police Station.

“The NBA is disturbed that the Nigerian Police seems to be back to the dark days of police brutality and admonish that the lessons from the #EndSARS Protest should not be lost on any individual or authority.”

The NBA assured members of the association that “the NBA will not only get to the root of this incident, we will uproot it and take steps to deal with anyone found culpable in every lawful way. We will ensure that this does not happen to any citizen anymore.”

In an earlier statement, the Chairman of the Lagos Branch of the NBA, Ikechukwu Uwanna, had called for swift justice for Raheem.

He said he had been in touch with the Commissioner of Police in Lagos, Abiodun Alabi, who ““assured us that the investigation and prosecution of the killer of Mrs. Raheem will be swift.