Murder of Lagos lawyer, Omobolanle:.My sister was pregnant with twins- Brother

 

 

IBRAHIM QUADRI with agency reports

 

The younger brother of the late lawyer, Mrs. Omobolanle Raheem, murdered by the police on Christmas day, Raheem Ishola, has revealed that his sister was pregnant with twins at the time of her death.

 

Bolanle Raheem, nee Ishola was gruesomely killed by ASP Drambi Vandi, an officer attached to Ajiwe Police Station in the Ajah area of Lagos on Sunday in the presence of her husband, and other family members while on their way to buy pizza.

 

The police had flagged down the car and shot her in the chest before her husband, who was driving at the time could find a place to park.

 

The atmosphere at the Lagos home of the Raheems was tense and very emotional when our correspondent visited on Tuesday.

 

Although the family turned down a request to speak with the media, Raheem, the last born of the family managed to mutter a few words to newsmen.

 

According to him, Omobolanle was the firstborn of the family.

 

“She’s pregnant with twins and she was the firstborn of her family.

 

“It’s a very sad moment for us. She’s my sister. I’m the last born of the family and she’s the first,”  he said.

 

Our correspondent observed that Omobolanle’s mum was still in shock as she kept insisting that her daughter was still in the house.

 

At one point, she ran out of the house claiming that she just saw her daughter in the house.

 

“I saw my child just now. Basira is outside,” she shouted. Mourners had to hold her and take her inside the house.

 

Meanwhile, the delegates of the Lagos State government were at Raheem’s residence on Tuesday.

 

They arrived at exactly 1:42 pm on Tuesday afternoon.

 

The delegates led by the Commissioner of Information, Gbenga Omotosho prayed for good tidings, and protection for the family even as he assured the family of justice.

Lagos lawyer’s mum breaks silence over daughter’s gruesome murder

 

The mother of slain Lagos lawyer, Mrs. Ishola has broken her silence over the gruesome killing of her daughter, Omobolanle Raheem by the Nigerian police force.

 

Bolanle Raheem, nee Ishola was killed by ASP Drambi Vandi, an officer attached to Ajiwe Police Station in the Ajah area of Lagos State on Sunday in the presence of her husband, and other family members while on their way to buy pizza.

 

The police had flagged down the car and shot her in the chest before her husband, who was driving at the time could find a place to park.

 

Mrs. Ishola, speaking in Yorùbá language with the Commissioner of Police, CP Olusegun Hakeem Dosumu at the deceased family House, Lekki Gardens, on Tuesday evening lamented how she suffered to train her child until she became a lawyer and successful in life.

 

She said: ” I suffered in lack and want hawking for my daughter, [slain lawyer] to become a graduate of law.

 

“I hawked oranges to ensure she had a good education and today, I can’t find her again…[sic]”

 

“She was not sick, she had no pain, she just disappeared like that. On a Christmas day when everybody was happy, my daughter just disappeared without suffering any sickness. Oh, Commissioner (referring to the police commissioner) it is not easy. “

 

Earlier in the day, our correspondent observed that Omobolanle’s mum was still in shock as she kept insisting that her daughter was still in the house.

 

The Commissioner of Police, Lagos State Command,  Abiodun Alabi, was on the condolence visit in the company of the Public Relations Officer of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago-iwoye, Barrister Bello Kazeem, Barrister Eniola Onaolapo, and Barrister Ajibola Ajiboye.

 

However, President Muhammadu Buhari has t condemned the “heinous and senseless” killing of Omobolanle Raheem, a member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) shot by on-duty policemen on Christmas Day.

 

The President said he was deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the brutal killing and directed the police authorities to take “the strongest possible action” against the culprits already held in detention.

 

President Buhari said this incident is a stark reminder of the recurring menace of the mishandling of weapons and a wakeup call to law enforcement agencies, including the Police to ensure the full implementation of reforms instituted by the administration on the subject of weapons handling as well as the protection of the rights of citizens.

 

“In this hour of grief, the nation stands in solidarity with the bereaved family and the NBA. I assure that justice will be done in this case,” the President said.

 

Also,  Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has reinforced his stand on justice for the family of Bolanle Raheem, who was shot dead by a policeman on Christmas Day.

 

This was disclosed by the State Commissioner for Information and Strateg, Gbenga Omotoso, noting the Governor sent a delegation on Tuesday to console the family at their home in Ajah.

 

The Governor also called the late Bolanle Raheem’s husband and her sister to further expressed his sympathy over the unfortunate death.

 

The Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Gboyega Akosile made the disclosure through is verified Twitter handle.

 

“We have the permission of Mr Governor to tell you that justice will be done in this matter. The matter will be charged to court as soon as the police send us the case file. I will be leading the prosecution to show the seriousness the government attaches to this matter,” Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Moyo Onigbanjo SAN said.

 

Special Adviser Tubosun Alake said Mr Governor urged the family to take heart. He prayed that The Almighty would console the family.

 

The husband of the late Bolanle, Mr Gbenga Raheem, thanked Mr Sanwo-Olu for his empathy.

 

Also in the delegation were Head of Service Muri Okunola, who signed the condolence register on behalf of the government ,Women and Poverty Alleviation Commissioner Mrs  Bolaji Dada and Commissioner for Information and Strategy Gbenga Omotoso

 

.Police release 2 officers

Lagos State Police Command says two police officers arrested with ASP Dambri Vandi, over the alleged killing of Mrs Omobolale Raheem would be released today (Tuesday) as they were not involved in the crime.

 

The command’s spokesperson, SP Benjamin Hundeyin, confirmed this to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Tuesday, while giving an update on the killing.

 

NAN reports that the police in Lagos, on Christmas Day, arrested an Assistant  Superintendent of Police (ASP) Dambri Vandi and two other officers attached to Ajiwe police station in Ajah area for allegedly killing one Mrs Omobolale Raheem, a lawyer, same day.

 

Hundeyin said they were taken into protective custody immediately and were later transfered to the State Criminal Investigation Department for thorough investigation.

 

He said that the two police officers arrested with the ASP were detained for interrogation and testimonies.

 

“The two police men arrested with ASP , who killed the lawyer will be released today (Tuesday) after giving their testimonies to the command.

 

“They were arrested because they saw what happened. They were not the ones  who allegedly killed the woman.

 

“They have given their stories on what happened and the CP has ordered that they should be released while investigations  continue,” he said.

 

On the update about similar killing of one Gafaru Buraimoh on Dec 7, by a police officer from the same Ajiwe police station, Hundeyin said that the officer was still in detention, yet to be charged to court.

 

The image maker said the police officer was yet to be arraigned because his dismissal order has not been released.

 

“There are indeed consequences. The officer is still in detention at the SCID. His investigation is being wrapped up.

 

“Once his dismissal order comes out, he will be charged to court immediately,” he said.

 

Hundeyin said that there was nothing wrong with the spot or area where the killings took place, but the officers, who  killed would be held responsible for their actions.

 

He noted that when the first incident occurred on Dec. 7, the commissioner of police, Abiodun Alabi, changed the DPO of the station after the incident.

 

“This has become one too many, especially, bearing in mind that a similar incident occurred at the same location less than three weeks ago.

 

“The condemnable incident is against the standard operating procedure (SOP) and rules of engagement of the Force, and to say the least is embarrassing.

 

“Beyond this incident, the Nigeria Police Force will carry out a reappraisal of its rules of engagement, to put an end to such avoidable ugly incidents,” Hundeyin said.

 

The spokesman appealed to residents of the State to remain calm as the Command was already in touch with the Nigerian Bar Association and other relevant stakeholders to ensure that justice totally prevailed.

.Ogunjimi demands restructuring of security agencies, state police

 

Dr Olufemi Ogunjimi, a lawyer and chieftain of Igbimo Asoju Yoruba, has decried the spate of extra-judicial killings in the country especially in the SouthWest by security agents, saying the time for state police is now.

 

Ogunjimi spoke against the backdrop of the killing of a female lawyer, Mrs Bolanle Raheem, by a bloodthirsty Assistant Superintendent of Police (identity not revealed) under Ajah bridge on Lekki-Ajah Expressway on Christmas day.

 

In a statement issued on behalf of Igbimo Asoju Yoruba and given to Persecondnews, the journalist-turned lawyer wondered if the extra-judicial killings were not borne out of hatred for a certain part of the country.

 

“The reckless and unfortunate killing of Mrs Bolanle Raheem by a power drunken and trigger-happy police officer on Christmas Day is one too many and calls for concern by all reasonable citizens.

 

“While we urge the youth to be calm and citizens to go about their normal business transactions as a result of the incident, we continue to decry the spate of extra-judicial killings in the country and especially in Yoruba land by security agents as we are tended to believe that there is an element of suspicious hatred towards the people and residents of this part of Nigeria.

 

“It is most unfortunate that despite our calls for rigorous training and restructuring of the security services, we are often faced with trigger happy and drugs abused personnel on our roads and highways,” the lawyer said.

 

Ogunjimi, therefore, called for the restructuring of the Nigeria Police Force and speedy trial of the alleged killer officer of Mrs Bolanle Raheem.

 

He said: “It is on the backdrop of the recent wave of killings by police culminating in the murder of Mrs Bolanle Raheem, a lawyer on Christmas Day by a blood thirsty police officer in Lagos that we are again calling for the establishment of state police in the country.

 

It is an understatement that the Nigeria Police Force is a relic of the brutal regime of our colonial past and it’s long overdue for restructuring.

 

“In the meantime, we are adding our voices and energies in the call for a speedy open trial of the Christmas day killer officer and the revisiting of other cases in not only the Southwest but nationwide.”