Okada Ban Stalls Trial Of BRT Driver, Ominnikoron, Accused Of Killing ‘Bamishe

Late Bamishe And Her Alleged Raper/Killer, Andrew Nice Ominnikoron, A BRT Driver

Okada Ban Stalls Trial Of BRT Driver, Ominnikoron, Accused Of Killing ‘Bamishe

The scheduled trial of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) driver, Andrew Nice Ominnikoron, accused of raping and killing a 22 year-old fashion designer, Ayanwole Oluwabamise, was stalled today, due to the enforcement of ban of commercial motorcycles popularly known as Okada, in Lagos State.

Justice Sherifat Shonaike of  Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) High Court of Lagos State, had at the last sitting fixed today, for continuation of Ominnikoron’s trial. But the officials of Nigerian Correctional Service (NCOS) could not produce the defendant in court, due to security reason over ban on the operations of the Okada.

When the case was called, the prosecutor, Dr. Babajide Martins, Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), informed the court that the prisons service did not bring the inmates to court due to security reasons over the Okada ban.

“I don’t think the defendant’s counsel , Mr. Abayomi Omotubora, is here and the Correctional Service did not bring inmates to court because of the Okada ban and security reasons, but we have three witnesses in court.

“The second prosecution witness (PW2), who needs to finish giving his evidence, and two other witnesses are in court. I humbly request that today’s date be vacated and adjourned to other dates that has already been fixed.”

Justice Sonaike while adjourning the further trial to June 7 and 9, 2022, directed counsel and the Court registrar to inform the prisons official to produce the defendant on the next adjourned day.

At the last proceeding on May 10, the second prosecution witness (PW2), Kayode Aluko, one of the Fleet Operational Managers at the Lagos Bus Services Limitedv(LBSL), had told the court how Ominnikoron, ran away after they got information of how he allegedly raped and murdered Oluwabamise Ayanwole.

Aluko told court that he had given an instruction to his officers who received the information of the incident, to inform defendant to see him for some interrogation on a missing person in his bus.

The witness told court in his evidence, that the defendant was employed in September, 2021. He told court that Ominnikoron  informed the officer in his office that he was going to eat, but never returned.

The witness, also gave details of how the defendant was employed by the Lagos Bus Services Limited, from an outsourcing company called Excel.

Aluko further told court that the three rape incidents and the murder of Oluwabamise Ayanwole, was never reported by the defendant, until February 28, after the deceased family reported the case to them.

The State Government had thereafter filed a five-count charge bordering on rape, conspiracy, felony, sexual assault, and murder preferred against Ominnikoron.

The defendant was alleged of having sexual intercourse with Oluwabamise Ayanwole, without her consent and murdered her at Lekki Conservation area  of the state on February, 26, 2022.

His offences contravene and punishable under Sections 411, 223, 260 and 165 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

The 47-year-old defendant had pleaded not guilty to all the count charged preferred against him.