Crime
Bolanle Raheem: Nigeria Police Makes Another Shocking Revelation About Killer-Cop Vandi
Drambi Vandi, the police officer who fired the gun that killed pregnant lawyer Bolanle Raheem on Christmas Day in the Ajah neighborhood of Lagos State is unable to account for the two shots that were fired.
The above disclosure was made by the Nigerian Police Force’s spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, in an interview with Splash FM in Abeokuta, the capital of Ogun State.
Adejobi said, “The governor came, the Lagos state government has taken over the prosecution, the police is not prosecuting so let Nigerians hear now, the police is not prosecuting. It is Lagos state government that will prosecute. We have given them interim report, the case file has been handed over to them, every other thing will be done, either postmortem, ballistic of the gun and what-have-you.
“But we know that Vandi was the one who pulled the trigger based on our investigation because they gave him 23 AK-47 ammunition, he could not account for two. It is part of it, that is why you don’t fire anyhow because you must account for any ammunition given to you so he has not been able to account for two as at the time he was interrogated at Panti (Lagos State Criminal Intelligence and Investigation Department).
“Which means two (pieces of) ammunition being fired or used or swallowed, he must tell how it has been used. We want to assure Nigerians that justice will be done. It is quite unfortunate that it is happening to him. No matter how beautiful, no matter how handsome, fine, kind, useful he is to the people around him, it is a bad case. He is in detention.
“The CP has done what he is supposed to do and the IG has condemned it. Such will not happen but the thing is let us respect our law enforcement agencies. When they flag you down, whatever it is, stop.”
Biztellers had reported that the female lawyer was shot dead by Vandi, an Assistant Superintendent of Police, on Christmas day.
Raheem, who was pregnant at the time of her death, was shot in the Ajah area of Lagos state.
The 41-year-old woman was rushed to a hospital, where she was confirmed dead.
Vandi, who was attached to the Ajiwe Police Station, Ajah, Lagos State, is said to have spent 33 years in the police force.
It was gathered that the deceased, a graduate of Olabisi Onabanjo University, Ago Iwoye, Ogun State, recently moved from litigation practice to property law.
She was the Chief Executive Officer of Croston Homes and co-founder of City Building, a real estate and property development company.
Meanwhile, Vandi has been suspended by the Police Service Commission. Last Friday, he was arraigned in court and remanded at the Ikoyi Correctional Centre till January 30, 2023 pending advice on the case from the Office of the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP).
The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has arrested former Delta State Governor Ifeanyi Okowa over allegations of diverting N1.3 trillion in 13% derivation funds intended for Delta State during his tenure.
Okowa, who served as governor from 2015 to 2023, was detained after he voluntarily appeared at the EFCC’s Port Harcourt Directorate on Monday in response to an official summons.
READ ALSO: Nigeria’s Debt Service Ratio Falls To 65% As Tinubu Tackles Economic Woes
According to an EFCC source, Okowa is accused of failing to account for the N1.3 trillion derived from the federation account, as well as an additional N40 billion he allegedly invested in shares of UTM Floating Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG).
The investigation suggests that Okowa acquired an 8% stake in a major Nigerian bank to support the offshore LNG venture, with funds purportedly misallocated from state resources.
Beyond the LNG shares, investigators are probing whether Okowa redirected state funds to acquire high-value properties in Abuja and Asaba.
Okowa is currently held at an EFCC facility in Port Harcourt as the inquiry continues.
The high-profile arrest comes as Okowa, who was the vice-presidential running mate to Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general election, faces scrutiny over his financial conduct in office.
Amid repeated absences from court, the Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an arrest warrant for Hathiramani Ranesh, Managing Director of Dana Air, who faces charges of fraud and conspiracy tied to alleged misappropriations totaling N1.3 billion.
The ruling, handed down Monday by Justice Obiora Egwuatu, calls for Ranesh’s immediate arrest following his failure to respond to multiple court summonses.
READ MORE: Ibadan Man On Why He Used 76 Women For Ritual, Ate Others
Justice Egwuatu cited Section 184 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), empowering the court to issue an arrest warrant against defendants who evade appearance.
“The defendant is legally obligated to appear, and the court is authorized to issue a warrant for arrest if he does not,” Justice Egwuatu said, setting January 13, 2025, as the next court date, adding that no objections will be considered unless Ranesh is present.
Ranesh and two Dana Group subsidiaries—Dana Group PLC and Dana Steel Ltd—face serious allegations from the Office of the Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF).
Prosecutors claim that between 2014 and 2018, Ranesh and his companies engaged in fraudulent activities, including the unauthorized sale of industrial generators valued at N450 million, which had been pledged as collateral in a debenture agreement.
Additional charges allege the misappropriation of N864 million from bond funds meant for operations at the Dana Steel Rolling Factory in Katsina, and a N60.3 million transfer to an external account without authorization.
The charges, filed by Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions Moshood Adeyemi, cite violations under the Criminal Code Act.
In court, government lawyer Mojisola Okeya-Esho argued for the arrest warrant, stating that Ranesh had disregarded court orders to appear for arraignment.
Defense counsel B. Ademola-Bello challenged the prosecution, contending that jurisdictional issues must be addressed before proceeding with the case.
Justice Egwuatu dismissed these objections, underscoring that Ranesh’s presence in court is required before other arguments can be entertained.
The matter is now adjourned until January 13, 2025, with the warrant remaining active until the defendant is brought to court.
In a shocking act of violence, armed assailants targeted the Police Rapid Response Squad facility in Owerrinta early Monday morning, resulting in the tragic death of a female detainee.
The attack occurred shortly after midnight along the Umuahia-Aba Federal Expressway.
READ MORE: Edo Deputy Gov, Omobayo Ordered To Court Over Refusal To Vacate Office
State Commissioner of Police Danladi Isa confirmed the incident, revealing that the gunmen arrived in three Hilux vehicles and opened fire on the police facility.
“Our personnel successfully repelled the attack,” Isa stated.
However, the attackers resorted to using dynamite, causing significant damage to the building and exposing the detainees inside.
During the chaos, the gunmen attempted to free detainees, leading to the fatal shooting of the female suspect.
Unconfirmed reports suggest she was in custody related to a child trafficking case.
In the aftermath of the attack, police swiftly initiated a manhunt for the perpetrators, employing advanced technical methods to track their movements.
Commissioner Isa announced the arrest of one suspect, who is currently undergoing interrogation to uncover the identities of additional accomplices.
“We are making significant progress in our investigation,” he affirmed.
Authorities are calling on the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities as the investigation continues.
BBNaija’s Eloswag Responds To Leaked Sextape
Fuel Pricing: PETROAN Accuses Dangote Refinery Of Monopoly
N1.3trn Fraud: EFCC Arrests Ex-Delta Gov, Ifeanyi Okowa
Hardship: Let Us Intensify Prayers For Our Leaders – Sultan Of Sokoto Tells Nigerians
Nigeria’s Debt Service Ratio Falls To 65% As Tinubu Tackles Economic Woes
#EndBadGovernance Protests: Tinubu Orders Release Of Detained Minors
OSSG Raises Alarm Over Murder Plot By APC Chieftain
NCC, SMEDAN, NAICOM, SEC, Others Set for SUPERNEWS SMEs Conf June 13
Sahara’s Tonye Cole resigns from GPHCDA
Oando opens ultra-modern petrol station in Lagos
Niger Delta Avengers: President Buhari Reads riot Act …considers the carrot and stick option
