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| Drambi Vandi |
Justice Ibironke Harrison of the Lagos High Court condemned Drambi Vandi, a police officer, to death by hanging for shooting a Lagos-based lawyer, Omobolanle Raheem, on Christmas Day last year.
Mr Vandi was charged with murder on January 16, but pleaded not guilty.
The court ordered an urgent hearing on the case.
The defendant allegedly shot Ms Raheem in the chest on December 25, 2022, at the Ajah Roundabout on the Lekki Motorway in Lagos State, according to the Lagos government.
The murder violates Section 223 of the Lagos State Criminal Law of 2015.
Attorney General Moyosore Onigbanjo led the prosecution team, which called 11 witnesses, including eight police officers.
Two eyewitnesses and a pathologist are among the other prosecution witnesses.
Insp Matthew Ameh, who allegedly worked with the defendant at the time of the murder, is one of the prosecution witnesses.
On February 25, the prosecution concluded its case, and on February 28, the defendant, through his counsel, Gbenro Gbadamosi, filed an application asking the court to dismiss the accusation against him.
Mr Gbadamosi argued that the prosecution witnesses' testimony was inconsistent and did not link the defendant to the alleged murder.
However, on April 3, the court dismissed the no-case submission.
Justice Ibironke Harrison ruled that the prosecution had presented enough oral and documentary evidence to link the defendant to the alleged crime, necessitating a response from him.
Ms Harrison went on to say that the defendant's evidence would give light on what happened.
On May 31, the defendant testified and the matter was closed.
Mr Vandi was the sole defence witness, according to his attorney.
The parties adopted their written addresses on July 13, and the court deferred judgement until October 9.
(NAN)