Andrew Ominikoron, the Bus Rapid Transit driver standing trial for the alleged rape and murder of 22-year-old fashion designer Oluwabamise Ayanwole, opened his defense before the Lagos State High Court in Tafawa Balewa Square on Thursday.
The PUNCH reported that Ominikoron, during his testimony, denied the charges of rape and murder, asserting that he did not harm Ayanwole.
Ominikoron, who became a BRT bus captain in September 2021, recounted the events of February 26, 2022, the day of the incident.
According to him, he was working the afternoon shift, which started at 1 p.m., with his route covering Oshodi to Ajah. After completing a round trip, he embarked on a second trip towards Ajah, but by around 7 to 8 p.m., he decided to stop work.
However, he admitted to illegally picking up passengers while returning to Oshodi, a practice he referred to as “Korokpe,” a slang used among drivers to describe unsanctioned pickups.
Ominikoron is facing charges brought by the Lagos State Government, including rape, conspiracy, felony, sexual assault, and murder.
The prosecution claims that on the night of February 26, 2022, near the Lekki-Ajah Conservation Centre, Ominikoron raped and murdered Ayanwole, an act that allegedly violated Sections 411, 223, 260, and 165 of the Lagos State Criminal Law (2015).
Ominikoron has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
During a previous court session on June 24, 2024, the trial was delayed due to a leg injury Ominikoron sustained in prison.
According to an Ikoyi Correctional Centre official, Ominikoron fell in the prison bathroom on June 23, injuring his left leg, which prevented his appearance in court.
At Thursday’s hearing, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Dr. Babajide Martins, informed the court that the trial had been delayed since November of the previous year.
Justice Sherifat Sonaike ordered the defense to open its case, and Ominikoron took the stand as his defense witness, led by his lawyer, Abayomi Omotubora.
In his testimony, Ominikoron stated that he picked up Ayanwole at Chevron and later picked up three male passengers at Agungi.
He claimed that one of the male passengers approached him, initially appearing as though he was going to pay the fare. However, the man threw an object at Ominikoron’s head and brandished a gun, demanding his cooperation.
He explained that when he illegally picked up passengers, he instructed them to sit at the back of the bus to avoid detection by the Lagos State BRT services’ monitoring officers, who could sanction drivers for unauthorized pickups.
Following the gunman’s instructions, Ominikoron was forced to divert the bus, placing the vehicle in neutral gear.
Ominikoron told the court that while the interior lights of the bus were on, they were dimmed to prevent outside detection.
“The light that was on was enough for those in the bus to see, but wasn’t bright enough for those outside to see the bus,” he explained.
Omotubora then introduced an audio recording that had been made by Ayanwole, which was played in court.
When asked if he was aware that Ayanwole had been recording or sending voice notes, Ominikoron said he was unaware of it at the time.
He claimed that the first time he heard the recording was at the Panti Police Station after giving his statement, adding that he did not understand the content due to a language barrier.
Ominikoron maintained that he had never seen the three men he picked up at Agungi before that night and would be unable to identify them.
He also alleged that at the Panti Police Station, he was subjected to severe torture, with officers forcing him to comply with their narrative.
“I was brought out and questioned every 15 to 20 minutes, and they continually took my statements. I could not write my statements due to the torture, so two to three people questioned me while the writer sat in front and wrote down my response,” Ominikoron testified.
His previous statements were read in court as part of the defense. In one of those statements, Ominikoron described an interaction with Ayanwole in which he told her he liked her and then asked her to move to the back of the bus to avoid detection by Lagos State BRT officials.
He claimed this exchange occurred before picking up the three male passengers. He further testified that one of the men pulled a gun on him in the Osborne area, forcing him to divert the bus.
According to him when they stopped, Ayanwole was screaming for help while being dragged out of the bus, but Ominikoron said he was unable to assist her due to the gun pointed at him.
After the men left the bus, Ominikoron claimed he went to the back of the vehicle to look for Ayanwole, but she was nowhere to be found.
He then drove the bus to the 7-Up terminal at the toll gate and left for home, staying in shock throughout the following day, which was a Sunday.
On his way to work the next Monday, Ominikoron received a call instructing him to report to the Oshodi depot, where he learned that one of his passengers was missing.
Ominikoron testified that, still in shock from the incident, he contacted a friend named Mr. Hope in Ogun State, asking if he could stay with him for a while.
He told the court that fear drove him to flee when he heard rumors about the incident circulating within the BRT depot, especially since the managing director of the company had repeatedly warned drivers that unauthorized pickups could lead to severe consequences.
When asked if he had raped or sexually assaulted anyone on his bus, Ominikoron denied the allegations, asserting that it was the male passengers who raped Ayanwole and dragged her out of the bus.
He also denied knowing or having any intimate relationship with MaryJane, a woman who had accused him of rape on November 25, 2021. According to Ominikoron, although he knew her and had given her N3,000 for her sick child, he began avoiding her because she constantly asked for money.
Ominikoron further denied knowing or attempting to rape a doctor (name withheld) in Ikorodu on December 29, 2021, claiming he had never been to Ikorodu on that date.
The trial has been adjourned until October 21, 2024, for the continuation of Ominikoron’s defense.
