By Ayo Kehinde
The Nigeria Ban Association, NBA, has expressed disagreement with the Police over what it described as a possible shoddy manner the force was investigating the killing of late Mrs Bolanle Raheem.
Mrs Raheem was killed in Ajah area of Lagos State by a cop, ASP Drambi Vandi on Sunday, December 26, 2023 as she was returning from Church with her husband, their child and some relations in their family car.
Speaking on the killing on Thursday on a Channels TV programme Politics Today, monitored by THISAGE, President of the NBA, Yakubu Maikyai, SAN, said the association was suspicious of the police readiness to do a thorough job of investigating the case.
Accordingly, Maikyai, who condemned the killing as barbaric and unacceptable while stressing the need for a through investigation to serve as a model of unravelling similar extra-judicial killings by the police, disclosed that the association would do all in its powers to ensure justice is done.
Force Public Relation Officer at the headquarters in Abuja, DSP Ademuyiwa Adejobi on Wednesday said the police has carried out a preliminary investigation, a committee has submitted an interim report on which basis the killer cop has been suspended,” adding that, “ we will ensure justice is done in the case.”
“The suspension is without prejudice to the constitutional presumption of innocence in favour of the officer, Muyiwa said, adding,
“The IGP has reaffirmed the commitment of the Force to the Rule of Law and assured the public of his administration’s commitment to ensuring that justice is not just done but seen to have been manifestly done in the matter.
“He, therefore, appeals to the public to be calm as all hands are on deck to ensure justice prevails while measures have been put in place to prevent future occurrences.”
In his response, Maikyau said, “Let me say first and foremost, the NBA is not leaving any options on the table. We have set up a Committee to liaise with Police on investigation. The First Vice President of our association is in contact with all branches of our association in Lagos. We would participate in the post mortem, set up a committee to liaise with the Attorney-General of Lagos State to participate in the investigation and make sure no stone is left unturned to fully investigate the case. We will Use Bolane’s case to intervene in cases of Nigerians similarly violated by the police.”
He said “We have some suspicion of how the matter is being handled by the police. Police Force PRO talked of certain internal processes to be followed before full investigation.
“However, Sec 96 and 103 of the Police Act is against the manner the police is going about it, slowly. This is a clear case of the murder. For the police to say the officer must go through Police internal process before he is investigated is unacceptable. They want to delay the case and once you allow time to pass, it may be difficult to prosecute as it has happened in many cases in the country.”
Meanwhile, the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba, has paid a visit to the Lagos State governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu and expressed his readiness to cooperate with the state to properly investigate the case. The police boss had recommended the suspension of the suspected killer cop to allow for smooth, speedy investigation.
