Bolanle Raheem: Let due process be followed — there will be justice, police tell Nigerians

The Nigeria Police Force (NPF) says it is committed to ensuring justice over the shooting of Bolanle Raheem, lead consultant of Croston Homes.

Raheem, a lawyer, was shot dead in an incident involving a police officer, now identified as Drambi Vandi, around the Ajah axis of Lagos state on Sunday.

The lawyer was said to be pregnant with twins at the time of her death.

Speaking on Wednesday in an interview on Channels Television, Muyiwa Adejobi, NPF spokesperson, described the incident as “unfortunate”.

He, however, said the decision of the inspector-general of police (IGP) recommending suspension for Vandi was not to give the officer a soft landing, but in line with the NPF rules.

Adejobi assured Nigerians that the force remains committed to bringing the officer to justice, especially as the incident is a case of “murder”.

“There is going to be justice and don’t forget, like in a statement I made yesterday on Twitter to people when we were having a discussion on this matter, I made it known that he was an ASP,” Adejobi said.

“He is not an inspector that you can just say ‘you are hereby suspended; you are this; you are that’. No, there is a procedure to follow and the number one procedure to follow is for the inspector-general of police to recommend to the police service commission that this officer should be suspended.

“And the suspension is for us to have that neutrality — the ability of the platform to have a proper investigation or further legal actions that might be taken against the officer who pulled the trigger.

“We are not here to say who is at fault or not. It is clear when we have a murder case, every other thing will need to subside. It’s quite unfortunate and we are not happy about the incident.

“We need to be patient enough. Let due process be followed; let the law be considered and we are going to do the needful. This man has been identified. The next thing is we are to suspend the man so that if at all he’s going to court, we can’t take somebody who is serving.”

Adejobi also said under the NPF rules, operatives who commit offences do not escape punishment.

“We don’t do anything with impunity. If you commit an offence as a policeman, you pay dearly for it. Nobody will tolerate that and the Police Act is very clear about it. The constitution and penal laws are very clear about this,” he said.