The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Usman Baba, has recommended the immediate suspension of Drambi Vandi.
Vandi is the officer responsible for the shooting and killing of a Lagos lawyer, Mrs Omobolanle Raheem.
The Force Public Relations Officer, CSP Olumuyiwa Adejobi, said this in a statement yesterday in Abuja.
Raheem was allegedly shot and killed by Vandi who is attached to Ajiwe Police Station in Ajah, Lagos State on December 25.
He said the suspension of Vandi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), attached to the Ajah Divisional Headquarters in Lagos State was to await a detailed report on the incident.
Adejobi said the recommendation for the suspension of the officer was in line with the internal disciplinary processes of the Force.
He said the suspension was also expected to create an enabling environment for necessary legal procedures to uphold justice in the case without interference.
According to him, the suspension is without prejudice to the constitutional presumption of innocence in favour of the officer.
Adejobi reaffirmed the commitment of the Force to the Rule of Law and pledged the commitment of the Nigeria Police to ensure that justice prevails which is seen to have been manifestly done in the matter.
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He appealed to the public to be calm as all hands were on deck to ensure justice prevails while measures had been put in place to prevent future occurrences.
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Adopting the motion, the lawmakers while agreeing that the Nigerian police act on the general conduct of the police officers should be reviewed, observed a minute silence for the late Raheem.
The lawmakers also condemned the killing of a member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Omobolanle Raheem, who was shot in Lagos by policemen on Christmas Day.
This resolution was a sequel to the adoption of a motion of Urgent Public Importance raised by Rep. Babajide Obanikoro (APC-Lagos) at the plenary yesterday in Abuja.
Moving the motion, Obanikoro lamented that on a fateful day, without any altercation, one of the officers shot Mrs Raheem who was seven months pregnant with twins, on the spot.
He recalled that a similar incident happened on Dec. 7 by officers from the same police station, gunned down a young man, which sparked unrest.
He expressed worry that such type of occurrence happened often across Nigeria, and the officers usually got away with killing innocent citizens they swore to protect.
The legislators also demanded a thorough investigation into the killing and other incidences of extrajudicial murders committed by police officers.
Adopting the motion, the lawmakers further agreed that the Nigerian Police Act on the general conduct of officers should be reviewed.
They observed a minute’s silence for the late Raheem.
