A Lagos High Court will on Monday deliver judgment in the case of a police officer, Drambi Vandi, charged with shooting dead a Lagos-based lawyer, Omobolanle Raheem, last Christmas day.
Justice Ibironke Harrison sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square gave the judgment date on July 13 after the adoption of final written addresses by counsel in the case.
Mr vandi was arraigned on Jan. 16 2023 on a count charge of murder but he pleaded not guilty.
The court granted accelerated hearing on the case.
The lagos State Government alleged that the defendant shot Mrs Raheem in the chest on Dec. 25, 2022, at Ajah Roundabout, on Lekki- Expressway, Lagos State.
The crime contravenes Section 223 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Prosecution team led by the former attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Moyosore Onigbanjo, called a total of 11 witnesses including eight police officers.
The prosecution closed its case on Feb. 25.
On Feb. 28, the defendant through his counsel, Mr Gbenro Gbadamosi, filed an application, praying the court to quash the charge against him.
On April 3, the court, however, dismissed the no-case submission.
Justice Harrison held that prosecution established sufficient oral and documentary evidence linking the defendant to the alleged crime, which required explanation from him.
On May 31, the defendant gave evidence and closed his case.
His counsel had told the court that the defendant was the sole defence witness.
Meanwhile, four persons died in the early hours of Monday along the Lagos-Ibadan highway, Ogun State.
The fatal crash occurred at about 12:45am, the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) told newsmen in a statement.
According to the FRSC spokesperson in Ogun, Florence Okpe, a total of 21 persons involved in the crash, comprising 13 male adults and eight female adults.
Okpe said three of the 21 persons, one male and two females sustained injuries in the road crash.
It was learnt that the four deceased victims were all male adults.
A luxury bus with registration number, ACA533ZP had crashed with another vehicle that had no registration number on it.
“The suspected cause of the crash was excessive speed which led to loss of control,” Okpe added.
She disclosed that the injured victims were taken to Famobis Hospital for medical attention, while the corpses were deposited at Idera morgue.
The FRSC Sector Commander in Ogun, Anthony Uga, had described the incident as avoidable if necessary caution had been put in place and simple rules obeyed.
Uga advised motorists to apply common sense speed limit, especially at night when visibility is poor.