Bamise: BRT driver claims fear prevented him from reporting rape, murder

The Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), Andrew Ominikoron, on trial for allegedly raping and murdering 22-year-old fashion designer Oluwabamise Ayanwole, yesterday admitted in his defence that he violated the BRT Services policy requiring drivers to report any incidents that occur during working hours.

Ominikoron, who testified before Justice Sherifat Sonaike of the Lagos State High Court in TafawaBalewa Square (TBS), said he failed to report the incidents due to fear.

Led in evidence by his counsel, MrAbayomi Omotubora, he narrated the circumstances of his arrest. Ominikoron told the court that he was sleeping at his friend’s house in Ososa around 1:00 a.m. when they heard a knock on the door.

He said he told his friends that those knocking were officers and advised them to open the door. Immediately after, an officer shone a torch in his face and slapped him on the ear, causing him to fall.

He said the officers then showed him a series of pictures of a light-skinned woman whom he had allegedly kidnapped on his bus.

He stated that they beat him, blindfolded him, handcuffed him, and put him in a Hilux vehicle along with his work bag and his friend.

Upon arrival at their destination, the officer in charge instructed him to confess what happened in exchange for freedom.
Ominikoron further told the court that around 4:00 a.m., the officers were ordered to lock him in a cell. He said he was brought out every 10 to 15 minutes for interrogation.

According to him, he was later taken to the Department of State Services (DSS), where he saw his Managing Director alongside other LAMATA staff. That evening, he was paraded before the press.

He added that two men later took him to Alausa, where the Commissioner of Police directed that he be taken for further investigation.

During cross-examination by the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), DrBabajide Martins, Ominikoron was asked if he could confirm that he drove the bus with code No. 240257 on the day of the incident, to which he responded affirmatively.

He acknowledged that he had received training before becoming a driver with the company and agreed that, in the event of any incident, he was required to call the office for assistance.

He admitted to the court that he did not sign out after parking the bus or fill out a complaint form to report the incident to the depot manager.

“I failed to report the incident on February 26, 2022, out of fear. I packed my belongings and left for my friend’s house without informing anyone,” he said.

He also mentioned that when he returned to work on Monday, he neither made a formal report nor informed anyone about the incident due to fear.

He noted that the bus he drove did not have CCTV, so there was no footage of what transpired inside. He also acknowledged that the Lekki Conservation Road area is generally quiet.

The DPP then replayed an audio recording of the late Bamise and asked Ominikoron whether he had returned to the location to check on her.

He said he did not, nor did he report the matter to the police.

When asked if he recognised his signature on the statements in exhibits 10, 11, 12, and 13, he confirmed that the signatures were his.

After hearing his testimony, the trial judge adjourned the case to November 29, 2024.