•Report by Mudasir Opeyemi
The Nigeria Police Force has assured Nigerians that the police officer who allegedly shot Lagos based lawyer, Bolanle Raheem would face justice according to his crime committed.
This was as the force also warned its personnel against unprofessional conduct, saying they will bear the consequences of their action.
Force Public Relations Officer, Muyiwa Adejobi said this while featuring on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Wednesday.
The Force PRO said police leadership does not do anything with impunity, adding that operatives will pay dearly for any offence committed.
Recall that Lagos-based lawyer, Mrs Bolanle Raheem, was shot dead on Christmas Day in the presence of her husband and other family members.
The incident was said to have happened around Ajah area of the state.
Her killing has sparked outrage from many Nigerians including President Muhammad Buhari
However, in his reaction to the incident,the Force PRO said the officer who pulled the trigger and other officers involved in the similar case in the past would face the music.
“Today I stand to be quoted or corrected anywhere the Police remains that agency that will fish out the erring ones in the Police and we will punish them accordingly.
“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
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While speaking on the life program,the Force spokesman confirmed that his principal(IGP) had written to the Police Service Commission, proposing that Vandi step aside while awaiting a report on the incident.
He said contrary to some rumours that the Force wants to sweep the matter under the carpet, the case will be followed to a logical conclusion to ensure that justice is served.
“The letter has been sent. If the IGP is saying this is what he wants for so reasons, the Commission, I’m sure, will not say no. This is not the first time we have been doing that,”Adejobi stated.
On the procedure the Force is taking regarding the case, Adejobi said the accused officer is an Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP), who cannot just be fired.
According to him, the Nigeria Police Force has identified Vandi as the policeman behind the unfortunate and has kept him in detention pending the outcome of an interim report to probe the murder case.
“For this case now, Vandi is an ASP. The IGP cannot say go even in this case. If you want to prosecute anybody, it is either you dismiss or suspend the person before the case is charged to court.
“In his own case, the first step is that he has been identified, he has been detained, an investigation has been carried out, and an interim report has been forwarded to us in Abuja.
“And we have written to the Service Commission that this officer, ASP Vandi should be suspended so that every other legal procedure can go on unhindered.”
On the 2023 General Elections,the Force PRO assured Nigerians that with the measures that had been put in place by the IGP, the country will have a seamless exercise next year.