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Bamise: Lagos Govt arraigns BRT driver Ominnikoron over alleged rape, murder
The Lagos State Government on Tuesday, arraigned the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) driver, Andrew Nice Ominnikoron, before a Lagos High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa TBS over the alleged rape and murder of his passenger, Oluwabamise Ayanwole.
Ominnikoron is facing a four-count charge bordering on rape, conspiracy and murder preferred against him by the Lagos state government.
When the matter came up before Justice Sherifat Sonaike, the Director of Public Prosecution DPP, Dr Jide Martins, informed the court that the matter was for the arraignment of the defendant.
The defendant’s counsel Mr Isaac Ezeawem did not object to the arraignment of the Ominnikoron.
Martins told the court that the defendant on November 25, 2021, allegedly raped a 29 year -old lady Nneka Maryjane Ozezulu, without her consent.
He said that the incident took place at about 7 pm, at Lekki- Ajah Conservation centre Lekki Ajah expressway Lagos.
The Prosecutor also told the court that Ominnikoron conspired with others now at large and forcefully had sexual intercourse with his 22-year-old passenger, Oluwabamise Ayanwole, a fashion designer without her consent and murdered her.
Martins said the incident happened on February 26, 2022, at about 8 pm, at Lekki – Ajah Conservation expressway and Cater bridge.
He said that the defendant and others still at large on February 26, 2022, unlawfully killed one Oluwabamise Ayanwole by throwing her out of a moving bus at Cater bridge after having sexual intercourse with her without her consent.
According to the prosecutor, the offences committed is 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 against him.
Given the defendant’s plea, the DPP urged the court to further remand him at the Ikoyi prison and asked for a trial date.
Consequently, Justice Sonaike ordered that Ominnikoron should be further remanded at the Ikoyi prison and adjourned the case to May 9, 10 and 11, 2022 for commencement of trial.
On March 11, 2022, A Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court remanded the defendant in prison custody for 30 days over his alleged involvement in the death of Ayanwole, pending the DPP’s legal advice.
Magistrate O. A. Salawu made the order following an application by the State Criminal Investigation Department (CID), Yaba, Lagos.
Salawu, who stood in for Chief Magistrate Tunbosun Adedayo, ruled that Ominnikoron, should be kept at the Ikoyi prison pending legal advice on the matter from the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP).
The Magistrate adjourned the case till April 11 for DPP’s advice.
The police based its remand application with a temporary four-count charge marked A/26/2022 filed by Lagos State Police Command head of legal section, Superintendent Yetunde Cardoso.
March 22, 2022
Bamise: Court arraigns BRT driver today, family requests autopsy
By Becky Adi
The Bus Rapid Transit driver, Andrew Nice, arrested in connection with the death of 22-year-old Bamise Ayanwola is set to be arraigned in court today.
According to rights activist and lawyer to the deceased’s family, Barrister Ayo Ademiluyi, Andrew Nice will be arraigned before a Yaba Magistrate Court at 12pm today.
Ademiluyi said, “The arraignment of Andrew Nice, the BRT driver that was arrested in connection with the murder of late Bamise Ayanwola, comes up today at Yaba Magistrate Court, and we urge interested persons to make it to the court by 12 noon as the arraignment starts as from 12 noon.”
The lawyer, who is a Lead Partner at Newworth LLP, also told our correspondent that Bamise’s family is requesting for an autopsy on the deceased corpse to ascertain whether her body was mutilated or not.
He said, “We want an autopsy to be conducted on her body in order for the facts to be ascertained whether her private parts or any of her organs was cut off”.
The PUNCH had earlier reported that another lady, in an interview, alleged that Mr Nice raped her on the BRT on November 25, 2021.
The victim said, “While on our way, he switched off the light of the bus, but the AC was on. But as we approached the first toll gate coming from Ajah, he suddenly parked the bus. He then told me to come and sit at the front and started asking me different questions.
“I saw him using a drug and my thinking was that he parked the bus to use the drug before time ran out. A few minutes later, he started making advances towards me and I saw that his manhood had risen up. I became very uncomfortable and insisted on getting down, but he didn’t open the door.
“He said he wanted both of us to go and chill and that he wanted to have sex with me, but I declined. Suddenly, he brought out a knife and dragged me to the back seat of the bus. He told me to take off my clothes, but I refused. He threatened to kill me. He tore my gown, forcefully removed the biker short I wore and raped me. I felt sad.”
The victim said she could not call for help because Omininikoron parked the bus at a desolate location, adding that he refused to let her go after allegedly raping her.
She added, “He insisted on driving me to my destination at Jakande Bus Stop. When we got to my bus stop, he still didn’t open the door. He demanded my account number and started pleading over what he did. He said he wanted to send money to me to buy painkillers.
“I could not speak out because I was ashamed of what happened and believed I could not get justice. But when his pictures started circulating online regarding the death of the lady (Oluwabamise), I told my friend that I knew him (Omininikoron).
“After seeing his coloured picture, I went to my bank, requested my statement of account, traced the day he sent me the money, and it was the same name, Omininikoron Nice, which was in the picture circulating. I told my friend about it and she introduced me to a rights activist.
“Some people may question me for speaking out now, but I am speaking out because of the girl. That man must not be freed because he is responsible for what happened.”
A statement of account provided by the victim confirmed Omininikoron sent N3,000 to her on November 25, 2021.
March 11, 2022
#JusticeForBamise: There Will Certainly Be Justice, Says Lagos First Lady
Wife of the Lagos State Governor, Dr. Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, has described the death of a young lady, Oluwabamise Ayanwole, as sad, shocking, and devastating.
Condemning the circumstances of the incident, the First Lady promised that justice will be served.
“As mothers, we are devastated; we are in shock; we are not happy. Lagos State is not known for ritual killings and we will not tolerate such,” Mrs Sanwo-Olu was quoted to have said in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Assistant Director, Public Affairs, Office of the Lagos State First Lady, Olubukonla Nwonah.
“Investigations are going on and I am sure there will be justice. Mr. Governor is not sleeping. There will certainly be justice,” she assured.
The First Lady called for a minute of silence in honour of the departed, just as she commiserated with her immediate family over the unfortunate incident.
Speaking further, she urged people to always be security conscious, advising that: “when you see something, say something and do something.”
Mrs Sanwo-Olu made the comments on Tuesday after a rally in commemoration of International Women’s Day 2022.
Organised by the Purple Women Foundation in collaboration with the Nigerian Governors’ Wives Forum, the rally, tagged “One Million Women March Against Gender Discrimination, saw the First Lady and other women marching from the state Secretariat to the House of Assembly in Alausa, Ikeja.
They were received by principal officers including the Speaker, Mudashiru Obasa; Deputy Speaker, Wasiu Eshinlokun; Majority Leader, Sanai Agunbiade; Chairman, House Committee on Women Affairs, Poverty Alleviation and Job Creation, Hon Mojisola Alli-Macaulay, among others.
Addressing the women, the First Lady described the rejection of the gender bills as an act of brazen discrimination against Nigerian women, calling on the National Assembly to promptly reconsider the bills and approve them.
“Our interpretation of what transpired with this pattern of voting at the National Assembly on March 1st, 2022, is that the progress of Nigerian women has been rejected. All the proposed constitutional amendments were meant to end bias against women and ensure the minimization; if not total removal of barriers millions of women face on the basis of their gender.
“We hereby condemn in no uncertain terms this brazen discrimination against Nigerian women. As half of the population of the country, our voices and our lives matter.
“There can be no development without the full and equal participation of women in all spheres, and any country that continues to deliberately undermine the advancement of women, is simply stifling its own advancement,” she said.
Mrs Sanwo-Olu also urged Nigerian women to remain steadfast and resolute in demanding an end to acts of bias and discrimination, assuring that victory awaits the womenfolk.
“As another March 8th comes upon us, we charge Nigerian women to rise and demand that all the political, economic, social, and cultural biases that keep eroding our dreams and that of our daughters be brought to an end. Our beloved country Nigeria belongs to all of us, men and women, boys and girls.
“On behalf of all the wives of Governors, I stand with our women that have come from all walks of life; I stand with our women that are here from different states. We are here standing for our rights and saying no to the rejection of the gender bills by the National Assembly. We are standing as one,” she said.
March 8, 2022
#JusticeForBamise: DSS Arrests BRT Driver, Two Others
The driver of a Bus Rapid Transit, which was boarded by the murdered 22-year-old fashion designer, Oluwabamise Ayanwole, has been arrested in Ogun State.
A confirmed source revealed that the suspect, who disappeared into thin air after the incident, was arrested by operatives of the Department of State Service (DSS) in the Odogbolu area of the state.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Adekunle Ajisebutu, had disclosed that the police also arrested two persons linked to the driver.
“As soon as the report got to the police, investigation into the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the lady was immediately initiated,” the police spokesman said.
“To ensure a speedy and diligent investigation, the Commissioner of Police, CP Abiodun Alabi, immediately directed the State Criminal Investigation Department, Panti to take over the case.
“In the course of ongoing investigation, two suspects have been arrested and are currently helping in our investigation.
“While assuring that police detectives will continue to work assiduously to find the missing lady and bring her abductors to justice, the Command wishes to appeal to anyone with useful information that could help in our investigation to promptly give it to us for further necessary actions.”
According to the police spokesman, preliminary investigation revealed that the victim may have been pushed down from the bus while motion.
This is even as he stated that efforts are ongoing by the Lagos State Police Command to take over the suspect from the DSS.
Oluwabamise’s body was found along the Carter Bridge by Ogogoro Community and has been deposited in the mortuary.
The young lady went missing on Saturday, February 26, while returning to Ota from Ajah. She boarded a BRT bus with number 240257 going to Oshodi at about 7 p.m. at Chevron Bus-Stop.
Until her death, she worked as a fashion designer at Chevron Estate in Ajah, Lagos, but spent the weekends at Ota, Ogun state, with her sister.
This has resulted in outrage with #JusticeForBamise trending on social media.
Sadly, her body was found dumped by the roadside, and an unidentified man reportedly informed officials of Ebute Ero Police Station on Saturday evening.
The corpse was later taken to the Mainland Hospital mortuary.
March 8, 2022