By Linus Aleke and Cross Udo
President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the “heinous and senseless” killing of a member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) shot by on-duty policemen on Christmas Day Omobolanle Raheem, at Ajah in Lagos State.
The president, in a statement issued by his Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, yesterday, said he was deeply shocked and saddened to learn of the brutal killing of the woman.
He directed the police authorities to take “the strongest possible action” against the culprits already held in detention.
Yesterday, however, the police said two of the colleague suspects arrested by the police with the killer assistant superintendent, Drambi Vandi, had been freed because they did not take part in the shooting.
But Buhari said the incident is a stark reminder of the recurring menace of the mishandling of weapons by security personnel.
He affirmed that the incident represents a wake-up 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.
Buhari said, “In this hour of grief, the nation stands in solidarity with the bereaved family and the NBA. I assure you that justice will be done in this case.”
*Lagos takes over the case
Meanwhile, the Lagos State Government has taken over the prosecution of the policeman who fatally shot the late Mrs Raheem.
The lawyer was killed after ASP Vandi opened fire on Christmas day after flagging down Bolanle and her husband.
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has called for full details of what transpired on Sunday.
Yesterday, Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, declared his stand on justice for the family.
The governor sent a delegation of top officials to console the family at their home in Ajah
The team was led by the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyo Onigbanjo (SAN), who announced that the state would prosecute the case.
“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.”
Onigbanjo added, “I will be leading the prosecution to show the seriousness the government attaches to this matter.”
In the gap, the husband of the late Bolanle, Gbenga Raheem, thanked Sanwo-Olu for his empathy.
Others on the delegation were the Head of Service, Muri Okunola, the Women and Poverty Alleviation commissioner, Bolaji Dada, Commissioner for Information, Gbenga Omotosho, and a Special Adviser, Tubosun Alake.
*PSC condemns gruesome murder, seeks accelerated investigation
In another development, the discipline enforcer in the police force, the Police Service Commission (PSC), yesterday condemned, in strong terms, the gruesome murder of the deceased lawyer, saying that the killing is not only irresponsible but represents an act of savagery.
Head of the Press and Public Relations Unit of PSC, Ikechukwu Ani, in a statement, said the commission also directed that the police leadership should hasten the investigation into the matter, and forward its report to the commission for consideration and further disciplinary action.
The statement reads in part, “The Police Service Commission has received with shock the news of the unprovoked killing of a harmless Nigerian, a lawyer, Mrs Bolanle Raheem, who was alleged to have been shot and killed by a policeman attached to Ajiwe Police Station Ajah, in Lagos State on Sunday, December 25th, 2022.
“The commission condemns this irresponsible and savage act. The commission also calls on the police to put in place a formidable programme for further training of its men in weapon handling as the case of unprovoked shooting and killing of innocent Nigerians has become worrisome.”
The commission also noted that the police, by its creation and constitutional mandate, is expected to protect and save lives, and not the other way around.
The acting chairman of the commission, Justice Clara Bata Ogunbiyi (retd.), on behalf of the management and staff, commiserated with the family of the deceased, especially her husband who was driving her home when they were accosted by the trigger-happy policeman.
*I hawked oranges to ensure she had good education –Sobbing mother’
In an atmosphere of sorrow, the mother of the slain lawyer, Mrs. Ishola, has broken her silence over the gruesome killing of her daughter, Omobolanle Raheem, by a police officer.
Speaking in Yorùbá language with Commissioner of Police (CP), Hakeem Dosumu, at the deceased’s family house at Lekki Gardens yesterday, Mrs Ishola lamented how she suffered to train her child until she became a lawyer and became successful in life.
She said, “I suffered from a lack of time and I want to help my daughter to become a graduate of law. I hawked oranges to ensure she had a good education, and today, I can’t find her again.
“She was not sick, she had no pain, and 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. “
It was observed earlier in the day that Omobolanle’s mum was still in shock as she kept insisting that her daughter was still in the house.
