Nigerian Court Sentences Police Officer to Death for Killing Lawyer
In a groundbreaking decision, a Nigerian court handed down a rare death sentence to a police officer who fatally shot a lawyer in Lagos, the nation’s bustling commercial center. This landmark ruling comes as Nigeria grapples with mounting allegations of police abuse and extrajudicial killings, earning widespread support across the nation.
After almost a year of legal proceedings, Justice Ibironke Harrison, presiding over the Lagos High Court, found police officer Drambi Vandi guilty of the murder of Bolanle Raheem. The tragic incident took place on Christmas Day last year, a day that marked Raheem’s untimely death, as she was pregnant at the time. Raheem was in her early forties, according to local reports.
The fatal encounter occurred in the town of Ajah, Lagos, when Vandi opened fire after Raheem’s vehicle failed to stop at a police checkpoint, as reported by local media. Although Vandi initially denied the allegations, one of his colleagues, a key witness during the trial, confirmed hearing the gunshot. Vandi retains the right to appeal the court’s verdict.
In a stern courtroom declaration, the judge solemnly informed the convicted police officer, “You will be hanged by the neck till you are dead.”
A Resounding Verdict with Far-reaching Implications
The Nigerian populace largely welcomed this exceptional verdict, viewing it as a much-needed response to the prevalent issue of police abuse in the nation. On social media, many expressed hope that the sentence would serve as a powerful deterrent to other wayward police officers who have, until now, largely avoided facing the consequences of their actions.
While death sentences are not uncommon in Nigeria, it has been years since a police officer faced such a severe penalty. The country currently has a significant backlog of pending death sentences, but the actual execution of these sentences is a rare occurrence. Execution warrants must gain approval from influential state governors, a process that has resulted in only two death sentences carried out since 1999, as explained by Inibehe Effiong, a Nigerian human rights lawyer.
Nevertheless, questions have arisen regarding whether Lagos Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu will sanction the execution of the police officer.
The authorities have come under mounting pressure to hold security forces accountable, following the nationwide protests against police brutality that erupted in 2020, a demand for justice that continues to resonate throughout the country.
While a considerable portion of the Nigerian population has commended the death sentence, there are voices calling for the abolition of such penalties. Okechukwu Nwanguma, who leads the Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre advocating for police reforms in Nigeria, argued, “The death penalty is inhumane, akin to seeking vengeance, and is susceptible to errors. There is no evidence that it serves as a deterrent to crime.”