A Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) driver in Lagos, Andrew Nice Omininikoron, has denied allegations of raping and murdering 22-year-old passenger Oluwabamise Ayanwola, claiming that three male passengers committed the crime.
Testifying before Justice Sherifat Sonaike during court proceedings, Omininikoron, led by his counsel Abayomi Omotubora, alleged that the men raped Ayanwola and threw her out of the bus.
Omininikoron was initially arraigned in March 2022 on charges of rape, conspiracy, and murder. Prosecutors accused him of conspiring to rape and kill Ayanwola on February 26, 2022, after she boarded his bus along the Lekki-Ajah expressway.
The defendant admitted to illegally picking up Ayanwola after official hours at Chevron bus stop, and described how three male passengers later boarded the bus and one pointed a gun at him. He claimed the men assaulted Ayanwola before pushing her out of the bus.
Despite his claims, Omininikoron fled after learning Ayanwola was missing and was later arrested in Ogun State. Under cross-examination, he denied knowledge of voice notes Ayanwola sent to a friend during the journey, expressing concern for her safety.
The trial has faced delays, with Justice Sonaike expressing displeasure and adjourning the case to October 21, 2024, for further examination.