Bamise: BRT operation manager narrates how Ominnikoron ran away

Justice Sherifat Sonaike of a Lagos High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), was yesterday, told how the driver of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) Andrew Ominnikoron, ran away after they heard about the rape and murder of a 22- year -old fashion designer, Bamise Ayanwole.

The prosecution witness, Kayode Aluko, the Fleet Operational Manager of the BRT, narrated this at the ongoing trial of Omininikoron for kidnapping, rape and murder. 

Aluko said the defendant never reported the three rape incidents and the murder of Ayanwole, until February 28, after the deceased family reported the case to them. 

Led-in-evidence by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Dr. Babajide Martins, the witness said, he had given an instruction to his officers, who received the information of the incident, that when the defendant comes, he should see him (Aluko) for interrogation over a missing person.

He said when the defendant came, the officer Aluko instructed to tell the defendant to meet him, said Ominnikoron went to eat and never returned.

The witness further gave evidence of how the defendant was employed by the Lagos Bus Services Limited (LBSL), from an outsourcing company called Excel.

Earlier in the proceeding, the 29-year- old victim of sexual assault, who testified on Monday (name withheld) denied claims that the act was consensual.

The survivor disclosed this while being further cross-examined by the defence counsel, Abayomi Omotubora. 
When Omotubora asked, “I put it to you that on that day, you and the driver went around doing merriment, eating Nkwobi, pepper soup and later went to a hotel?” 

But the witness maintained that she didn’t know the driver prior to that day and denied the claims. She also denied that the reason she came to testify against defendant was because he didn’t pay her the agreed N5,000 naira fee for the “show” between them.

However, a mild drama ensued when the defence lawyer asked the court for the witness to wear the dress she wore that night when the defendant allegedly sexually assaulted her. 

The manner of her dressing also became an argument when the defence lawyer said what she wore was a blouse and not a gown as claimed.

Justice Sonaike adjourned further hearing on the matter till June 1.