Bolanle Raheem: Killer of pregnant Lagos lawyer won’t go unpunished, Sanwo-Olu vows

 

.IGP orders probe, speedy prosecution of arrested ASP

.Lagos Police condole with deceased family, call for calm

. Atiku, Tinubu advocate police reforms

Outrage as NBA, Effiong, Marcaroni, others demand justice

 

Jonas Ezieke, Abuja and IBRAHIM QUADRI

 

Lagos State Governor Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Monday condemned the alleged shooting and killing of Mrs. Bolanle Raheem, a lawyer which was said to have taken place under the Ajah bridge by a police officer attached to Ajiwe police station.

 

According to media reports, the victim and her family were on their way out for Christmas Day celebration.

 

The Governor expressed shock and sadness over the mindless shooting of “a harmless citizen” by a police officer whose primary job function was to protect the same citizen.

 

Sanwo-Olu sympathized with the family, friends and associates of the late Bolanle Raheem, pledging the State Government’s full support and cooperation with the police authorities in their investigation to unravel the remote and immediate cause of the shooting, that led to the untimely death of the innocent citizen, with a view to ensuring that justice is served.

 

He said: “I have studied preliminary reports on the matter and have instructed the appropriate Government officers to immediately get on it. We must ensure a speedy justice for the late Bolanle. Our Government cannot sit back and watch our citizens killed by the same law enforcers that should ordinarily protect them.

 

“I’m aware that the Lagos State police command have arrested, disarmed and detained the police officers involved in the shooting incident. I can assure you that the accused persons will have their day in Court and nothing will be spared under the Laws of Lagos State until justice is served adequately. We will ensure that it is done speedily because justice delayed is justice denied.”

 

Governor Sanwo-Olu however appealed to residents to remain calm and not take the law into their hands on the matter, assuring Lagosians that the Government will live up to her responsibilities and get justice for the late Bolanle Raheem.

 

The Governor prayed for the repose of the late Bolanle Raheem’s soul, asking God to grant her immediate family and friends the fortitude to bear the irreparable loss.

 

In a swift reaction ,the Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, has condemned the shooting and killing of Mrs Omobolanle Raheem, a lawyer who was allegedly shot and killed by a Policeman attached to Ajiwe Police Station, Ajah, Lagos State.

 

The IGP, who described the incident as unfortunate and sad, has ordered speedy investigation and prosecution of the officers responsible for the ugly and unprofessional act, which doesn’t portray the Nigeria Police Standard Operating Procedure and core values.

 

In the same vein, the IGP commiserates with the family,  friends, and colleagues of the deceased as he prays for the repose of her soul.

 

He further assures the general public of justice in the case while he warns officers and men of the Force to be professional and people-oriented in the discharge of their duties and operate within the ambit of the law, as the Force’s leadership will not condone any inappropriate or unprofessional acts.

However, following the murder of Mrs. Bolanle Raheem in Lagos on Christmas Day by a policeman, the presidential candidate of the PDP in the 2023 general election, Atiku Abubakar and Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu of the APC, have called for the reform of the Nigeria Police Force

While Atiku said the shooting “calls to attention the urgent need for Police reforms that will sanitise the Force and bring it in line with best policing practices,” Tinubu disclosed that the tragedy “underscores, yet again, the crucial importance and urgency of reforming the Nigeria Police Force.”

 

According to Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), “The shooting of Bolanle Raheem by a police officer is heartbreaking and stands condemned. This latest shooting calls to attention the urgent need for Police reforms that will sanitise the Force and bring it in line with best policing practices.”

 

Tweeting on his confirmed Twitter handle, @atiku, the former Vice President said, “I call on the police authorities and the Justice system to expedite action on the matter, as justice delayed is justice denied. This will serve as a deterrent to the incidents of irresponsible shooting of innocent citizens by law enforcement agents.

 

“I express my deepest condolences to the family, friends and the Nigeria Bar Association, in particular its Lagos chapter. May her soul rest in peace. –AA”

 

Similarly, Tinubu, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), said, “I share the grief and frustration of Nigerians over the senseless killing of Mrs. Ombolanle Raheem by a police officer on Christmas Day in Lagos.”

 

Taking to his verified Twitter handle @officialABAT, Tinubu, said: “The avoidable tragedy, which cost a family a beloved member and our country a diligent legal professional, underscores, yet again, the crucial importance and urgency of reforming the Nigeria Police Force.

 

“The important institution must live up to its constitutional mandate of protecting the people and keeping the peace. Encounters with law enforcement agents should not result in death, injury, or undue harassment for law-abiding citizens. That is unacceptable.

Also, The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) on Monday requested the police to come up with more details of the alleged murder of a Lagos-based female lawyer, Mrs Bolanle Raheem.

She was said to be returning home with other members of her family when the alleged murder occurred.

In a statement in Lagos on Monday,  the NBA demanded more information from the police on the alleged murder.

In the statement signed by its Publicity Secretary, Mr Habeeb Lawal, NBA said that the alleged murder was deplorable.

“‘The Nigerian Bar Association deplores the cold-blooded murder of our member, Mrs Omobolanle Raheem, by an officer of the Nigerian Police Force attached to Ajiwe Police Station in Ajah, Lagos State.

“The NBA President, Mr Yakubu Chonoko Maikyau (SAN),  upon receiving the sad news, made efforts to get across to the husband of our deceased member who understandably has been unavailable to answer calls.

“Since this terrible incident, the NBA has taken  initiatives to uncover the facts surrounding the murder of our member.

“In this regard, the NBA is able to report that the Lagos State Police Command has confirmed that the suspected murderer of our member is one ASP Drambi Vandi,  who has been in the police service for 33 years.

“While the NBA acknowledges the sympathy and regret of the police authorities over this incident, the NBA president has demanded that the police officially disclose and immediately release fuller details of the errant officer and other officers responsible for this heinous act,” it said.

The NBA said it had informed the police of its resolve to be a complainant in the case along with Raheem’s family.

It added that it had constituted a team with a mandate to follow up and ensure a speedy but thorough investigation of the alleged  crime.

According to the NBA, the team includes its national officers, chairman and vice chairperson of NBA, Lagos Branch, and chairman of NBA, Ikeja Branch.

 

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

“The NBA president prays for the repose of the soul of Mrs Omobolanle Raheem, and urges  members and concerned Nigerians to be calm as we ensure the law takes its course,” it said.

.Bolanle Raheem was pregnant, says Inibehe Effiong

Bolanle Raheem was killed in cold-blood by a blood thirsty policeman who shot at her vehicle while trying to make a U-turn under the Ajah Bridge.

More facts have emerged concerning a female lawyer, Bolanle Raheem, who was murdered by a police officer on Christmas Day in the Ajah area of Lagos State.

Raheem, a property lawyer, an award-winning realtor, a real estate consultant, business coach and developer, who was the Chief Executive Officer of Croston Homes and Co-founder City Building, a real estate and property development company, was shot dead Sunday at about 11 am on her way back from Church.

She was killed in cold-blood by a blood thirsty policeman who shot at her vehicle while trying to make a U-turn under the Ajah Bridge.

 

On Monday, human rights lawyer, Inibehe Effiong, disclosed that the late Bolanle Raheem was pregnant.

Effiong who was part of the Nigeria Bar Association (NBA) delegation that visited the Ajah police station where the alleged killer policeman was serving and also paid a condolence visit to the family of the deceased tweeted: “This is ASP Ayuba, the rogue policeman at Ajiwe Police Station, Ajah that murdered a pregnant lawyer, Mrs. Bolanle Raheem, on Christmas day while the victim was returning from Church with her husband. We were at the station this morning and paid a condolence visit to the family.”

Tweeting a photo of the alleged killer of Bolanle Raheem using his verified Twitter handle, @InibeheEffiong, the lawyer said, “The grieving man that is holding his head with his two hands in the photo is the husband of the deceased lawyer. He could barely utter a word while we were in his house.

“This is how terrible our country has become. The police that is supposed to protect citizens is killing Nigerians with impunity.”

Updating his earlier tweet, Inibehe Effiong also raised alarm that the police may already be trying to muddle up the identity of the alleged murderer.

He tweeted, “UPDATE: I’m now hearing that the officer’s name is “ASP Drambi Vandi.” We were earlier told that his name is ASP Ayuba. The police should come out clean on the identity of this killer policeman. We understand he’ll be due for retirement soon. He must not be shielded.”

Comedian Mr Macaroni has reacted to the killing of Lagos lawyer Bolanle Raheem by an assistant superintendent of police (ASP) in Lagos on Christmas day.

In a Twitter post on Boxing Day, Mr Macaroni described the killing as barbaric and demanded that those responsible must pay.

He wrote “A Nigerian Police Officer from Ajiwe division shot and killed Bolanle Raheem on Xmas day. It is from this same division an Officer killed Gafaru Buraimoh about two weeks ago. This barbarism by the Nigerian Police must come to an end. These Murderers must pay for their crimes!!!”

In another tweet, the citizen activist alleged that insecurity and extrajudicial killings have worsened in Lagos.

Lagos police command spokesperson Benjamin Hundeyin has, however, confirmed the arrest of the policeman who shot Raheem.

In a message posted on Twitter, Mr Hundeyin said “Unfortunate and avoidable incident that was. The ASP that shot and two others with him have since been taken into custody. They are to be moved to the SCID for further investigation.”

 

Hundeyin added that the command condoles with the family, friends and colleagues of the deceased.