Bamise: Defence counsel’s illness stalls BRT driver’s trial for second time
The absence of the defendant’s counsel, Abayomi Omotubora, yesterday, stalled the scheduled trial of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) driver, Andrew Ominnikoron, accused of sexual assault and murder of a 22-year-old fashion designer, Oluwabamise Ayanwole.
Justice Shrrifat Sonaike of a Lagos High Court sitting in Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) had fixed yesterday for continuation of trial, but the matter could not go ahead as a result of inability of the defendant’s counsel to attend proceeding due to illness.
The case was also stalled on June 1, due to security issue, regarding the ban on operation of commercial motorcycle popularly known as Okada, as the suspect was not brought to court by officers of the Nigerian Correctional Services.
The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had on May 18, 2022, announced a total ban on the operation of commercial motorcycles in six local councils with effect from June 1.
Following the ban, Okada riders had planned to protest. Sequel to the plan, the Controller of Prisons Adebisi Adewale gave a directive for a temporary suspension of conveying inmates to various courts in the state due to intelligence and security reports of possible breakdown of law and order.
However, when the case was called yesterday, the defendant’s lawyer was not in court.
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Dr. Babajide Martins, told the court that the defendant’s counsel, Mr Abayomi Omotubora was sick.
He said, he had called the defendant counsel, Omotubora and he told him he was sick that he couldn’t make it to court. He also apologised for not sending a junior from chambers.
The court subsequently adjourned the case to June 9 for the continuation of trial.
At the last hearing of the case, on May 10 2022, the second prosecution witness (PW2), Kayode Aluko, one of the Fleet operational managers at the Lagos Bus Services limited, had narrated how Ominnikoron, ran away, after they got information of how he allegedly raped and murdered the victim.
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