Bamise: Witness reveals how BRT driver sexually abused victims in secluded places

Ominnikoron denies allegation

A Superintendent of Police, Sunday Goddy Ihende, yesterday, narrated how Andrew Nice Ominikoron, a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) driver, allegedly abuse his victims sexually in secluded places.

Ihende revealed this in his testimony before Justice Sherifat Sonaike of a Lagos High Court sitting in Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS).

Ihende is a prosecution witness in the ongoing trial of Ominikoron over the alleged murder of a 22-year-old fashion designer, Oluwabamise Ayanwole, who boarded the BRT bus.

Led-in-evidence by Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Dr. Babajide Martins, the witness, a homicide police officer, told the court that apart from the deceased (Ayanwole), the defendant had attempted to sexually abuse one doctor, Victoria Anieke.

He said the defendant attempted to abuse Aneke, who resides in Delta State when she visited Lagos. He told the court that the incident happened on December 29, 2021, when she came to visit her parents and friend in the Ketu and Ikorodu areas of the state respectively.

Ihende narrated that the modus operandi of the defendant was that he always carried his victims alone and go to secluded places to rape them.

He told the court that, when they brought the defendant to their office at State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department (SCIID), Panti, the defendant narrated to him what happened on February 26, when Ayanwole boarded his bus.

The witness said investigations revealed that the defendant takes his victims to secluded places, switches off lights inside the bus and then rapes them.

Ihende said he went to Delta State on March 29, 2022, to meet Dr. Anieke. “ I asked her how she got to know the defendant, she said that it was on the Internet and when she zoomed the picture of Ayanwole and the defendant, she discovered that the defendant was the same driver that attempted to abuse her sexually.”

Witness also said the defendant succeeded in raping another passenger, MaryJane on November 24, 2021.

Ominnikoron is facing a five-count charge bordering on rape, conspiracy, felony, sexual assault, and murder preferred against him by the Lagos State Government.

The prosecution said that the defendant on November 25, 2021, allegedly abused a 29- year -old lady Maryjane Odezulu, without her consent.

The incident took place at about 8:00 p.m., at Lekki- Ajah Conservation centre, Lekki Ajah Expressway Lagos.

The Prosecution also alleged that Ominikoron conspired with others now at large to sexually abuse and murder his 22-year-old passenger, had sexual intercourse with Ayanwole, without her consent and murdered her, at about 7:00 p.m., between Lekki Ajah expressway and Carter Bridge, on February 26, 2022.

The defendant and others now, at large, on February 26, 2022, unlawfully killed one Ayanwole by throwing her out of a moving bus between Lekki- Ajah Expressway and Cater Bridge.

The defendant was further accused of sexually assaulting a 29-year-old woman one Victoria Anieke, on December 29, 2021, between Ikorodu and Mile 12 area of Lagos State.

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

However, the 47-year-old defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him.

The witness also told the court that the statement of the defendant was recorded in a video.

However, when the prosecution counsel sought to tender the recorded video in evidence, the defence counsel, Mr. Abayomi Omotubora opposed the admissibility of the compact disc.

He argued that the statement of the defendant was not taken voluntarily and asked the court to conduct a trial within trial.

After listening to their arguments, Justice Sonaike subsequently adjourned to October 31, 2022, for trial within the trial.

Earlier the defendant’s counsel Omotubora had told the court that the defence wished to recall the 2nd, 3rd and 4th witnesses for further cross-examination.

He told the court that they had filed an application dated September 27, seeking to have the three witnesses for further cross-examination.