Andrew Nice Ominikoron, a Lagos State Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) driver on trial for the r*pe and m*rder of passenger Bamise Ayanwola, has denied the charges and implicated three other individuals.
Ominikoron, 47, gave his testimony on October 17 before Justice Sherifat Sonaike at the Lagos State High Court, Tafawa Balewa Square. Led by his lawyer, Abayomi Omotubora, he claimed that he neither r*ped nor k!lled the 22-year-old fashion designer.
He alleged that three male passengers, who boarded his bus after official hours, ass*ulted and threw her off the vehicle. He recounted that on February 26, 2022, he began his afternoon shift from Oshodi to Ajah at 1 pm, and while on a return trip around 7 to 8 pm, he picked up passengers illegally on his way back to Oshodi.
Ominikoron faces charges of r*pe, conspiracy, felony, s*xual ass*ult, and murder by the Lagos State Government, linked to the incident on February 26, 2022, near the Conservation Centre on Lekki-Ajah Expressway. It’s alleged he forcibly had s*xual !ntercourse with and m*rdered Oluwabamise Ayanwole, violating Sections 411, 223, 260, and 165 of the Lagos State Criminal Law, 2015.
Pleading not guilty, Ominikoron elaborated during the trial that he picked Bamishe at Chevron and three men at Agungi. He claimed a male passenger approached him, threw something at him, showed a gvn, and demanded cooperation. Ominikoron complied with instructions to disable the bus and keep its interior dimly lit to avoid drawing attention from monitoring officers for picking up passengers illegally.
He asserted he was unaware Bamishe was recording or sending voice notes until hearing them played at Panti Police Station due to a language barrier. He further claimed ignorance of the three men’s identities.
Ominikoron described how he endured severe police t*rture at Panti, forcing compliance with their accusations and resulting in statements written by police during questioning. His previous statement indicated he asked Bamishe to sit at the back to evade detection by LSBS officers, before picking the three men.
Ominikoron recounted one man pointing a gvn at him and redirecting the bus. He said when they stopped, Bamishe screamed but he couldn’t intervene due to the gun threat. He alleged he couldn’t find Bamishe after the men disembarked and subsequently drove to the toll-gate/7-Up terminal, going home until the next day.
While heading to work on Monday, he learned of a missing passenger. He contacted a friend about staying in Ogun State due to personal issues. He denied r*ping anyone on the bus and claimed Bamishe was ass*ulted and dragged out by the male passengers.
Ominikoron recounted feeling too shocked to report the events post-Bamishe’s disappearance, describing hearing rumors and eventually fleeing to avoid retribution for illegal passenger pick-ups equated to theft.
Regarding another alleged victim, MaryJane, Ominikoron acknowledged knowing her but denied assaulting her, describing a past non-intimate relationship where he gave financial assistance. He refuted claims of attempting to assault another person on December 29, 2021, in Ikorodu.
Before adjourning for further examination-in-chief scheduled for October 21, Justice Sonaike expressed frustration at the case’s slow progress, attributing delays to the defense. The Director of Public Prosecutions, Babajide Martins, noted receipt of a query from the Attorney General due to the prosecution’s closure since November 2023.