By Onyinyechi Ugwoke
The Lagos State Government on Tuesday, arraigned the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) driver, Andrew Nice Ominnikoron, before Justice Sherifat Sonaike of the Lagos State High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa TBS over the alleged rape and murder of his passenger, Oluwabamise Ayanwola.
Ominnikoron pleaded not guilty to four counts of rape, murder and conspiracy to commit the offences.
During the court sitting, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Dr Jide Martins, said the matter was for arraignment.
The BRT driver was represented by his counsel, Mr Isaac Ezeawem.
Dr. Martins told the court that the defendant allegedly raped another lady (name withheld) aged 29 on November 25, 2021.
He stated that the incident occurred around 7 p.m. at the Lekki-Ajah Conservation Centre on the Lekki Ajah Expressway.
According to the prosecutor, Ominnikoron conspired with others who are still at large to have sexual relations with his passenger, Ayanwola, without her consent, and then murdered her.
Dr Martins said the rape incident happened on February 25, 2022, at about 8 pm, on the Lekki-Ajah Conservation expressway.
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.
Following the provision of preliminary information, the case was adjourned to May 9, 10, and 11, 2022 for a full trial to begin, and the defendant was ordered to be further remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Centre in Ikoyi, Lagos.
Reacting to the hearing, the Ayanwola family’s counsel, Ayo Ademiluyi told journalists that it had rejected the conduct of the autopsy being conducted by the police and the Lagos state government.
“In every sense, the Lagos State government is a party to this crime, and so it can’t have an appointee as a pathological judge, they can only observe. We are assembling a team of professors of pathology to observe for us….we are writing to the Canadian, American and British medical associations to provide international observers at the pathological anatomy of Miss Ayanwola.”
Mr Ademiluyi also said it is the opinion of the pathologists that will confirm whether certain parts of Miss Ayanwola’s body were removed during her ordeal on the BRT bus before she was thrown off.
