Morakinyo Akinosun

COMBO [from left]: Andrew Nice Ominnikoron, Late Bamise Ayanwola and a Lagos BRT bus allegedly used for perpetrating a rape and murder crime in Lagos

LAGOS – A driver of Nigeria’s Lagos State Bus Rapid Transport services, Andrew Nice Ominikoron, has testified that he failed to report the incident of his passenger, Oluwabamise Ayanwola (late), allegedly being raped by three male passengers and thrown off his bus afterwards.

Ominikoron revealed this before Justice Sherifat Sonaike of the Lagos State High Court, TBS annex, on Monday during a cross-examination which was handled by Babajide Martins, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) of the Lagos State Ministry of Justice.

On Thursday, October 17, the suspect opened his defence and was led in evidence
by his counsel, Abayomi Omotubora, where he told the court that it was three male passengers who boarded his bus after official hours that raped Bamise and threw her off the vehicle.

At the resumed hearing on Monday, the defendant who has been a driver with the Lagos Bus Services Ltd. (LBSL) Since September 2021 – was asked for the protocol at the company for drivers whenever an incident happens while on duty.

Ominikoron said that drivers are mandated to always call the office to report any case and that such incident must be formally reported to the depot manager upon return to the office, noting that he failed to file any report out of fear of getting into trouble with his boss on February 26, 2022.

He said he picked up Bamise and the other passengers after officially hours, when he was supposed to return the bus to the park at Oshodi and not carry anymore passenger.

“The only problem I have had in my 20 years of driving was on Feb 26, with Bamise. I was afraid, so I packed the bus that day and left without telling anyone,” Ominikoron said.

Q: When you came back to work on Monday, did you make a formal complaint or complain to anyone?

A: No,  I was afraid.

Q: When you were called by your boss for an explanation over the incident, you disappeared. yes or no?

A: Yes, I was afraid because I thought they had gone to bring the police to arrest me.”

The prime suspect also said the bus he rode that day and on the previous incidents, as alleged, had no CCTV facilities to record what truly happened.

Earlier on the day, he told the court that he was tortured severally by DSS officials upon his arrest and interrogation, which he said continued when he was transferred to the State Criminal investigation department, Panti. But, during cross examination, he said he didn’t file a complaint to the DSS director or the Inspector general of police over the torture claims. He also identified his signature on the statement purported to have been made by him during police custody.

Late Bamise Ayanwola was reportedly raped and murdered while returning to Ota from Ajah on Saturday, February 26, 2022, after boarding a BRT bus.

Andrew Nice Ominnikoron is facing a four-count charge bordering on rape, conspiracy, felony and murder of the 22-year-old fashion designer on February 26, 2022, and preferred against him by the Lagos State Government. He was arraigned in March 2022.

The Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Lagos had told the court that the incident took place at about 7 pm between the Lekki- Ajah Conservation Centre and Cater Bridge.

The DPP also told the court that Andrew Nice conspired with others now at large and forcefully had sexual intercourse with his 22-year-old passenger, Bamise without her consent after which he murdered her.

He said that the defendant and others still at large unlawfully killed Bamise by throwing her out of a moving bus at Cater Bridge after having sexual intercourse with her without her consent.

According to the prosecutor, the offences committed is contrary to and punishable under Sections 411, 223, 260 and 165 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

In April, Justice Sherifat Sonaike of the High Court of Lagos, Tafawa Balewa Annex (TBS), overruled the no-case submission filed by Andrew Nice in the alleged rape and murder case against him.

In the course of reviewing previous testimonies, Justice Sonaike, held that the testimonies given by the nine prosecuting witnesses in the matter are linked to the defendant.

Further hearing is fixed for Nov. 29.

The spate of femicide in Africa continues to leave a trail of devastation.

Also, Nigeria is presently grappling with a sinister phenomenon that has already claimed countless lives and left families devastated.

Ritual killing, driven by the belief that human body parts can be used for sudden wealth and power to manipulate and control, has become a scary reality in the country. This heinous practice, which is usually glossed over as a folktale until one falls victim, is an affront to human dignity and a blight on our collective conscience.

Some individuals believe that human organs and body parts possess spiritual powers that can bring lasting wealth, success, and protection. This belief is perpetuated by false narratives and superstitions by dishonest individuals.

Recent data suggests that the problem is escalating.

Nigeria is facing its worst economic crisis in decades, with skyrocketing inflation, a national currency in free-fall and millions of people struggling to survive.

Poverty, unemployment, and a lack of education create an environment where desperate individuals are preyed upon by unscrupulous ritualists.

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