BRT Driver Denies Involvement In Rape And Murder Of Bamise

Andrew Ominikoron, a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) driver, currently on trial for the alleged rape and murder of 22-year-old fashion designer Oluwabamise Ayanwole, began his defense on Thursday before the Lagos State High Court in Tafawa Balewa Square. Ominikoron, who is facing charges of rape, conspiracy, sexual assault, and murder, denied raping or killing Oluwabamise during his testimony.

He recounted that he started working as a BRT bus captain in September 2021. On February 26, 2022, the day of the incident, he was on an afternoon shift, driving from Oshodi to Ajah. According to him, after completing a round trip, he decided to pick up passengers illegally while returning to Oshodi, a practice known among drivers as “Korokpe.”

The prosecution alleges that Ominikoron raped and killed Oluwabamise after picking her up around 7 pm near the Conservation Centre on the Lekki-Ajah Expressway. The charges against him cite violations of Sections 411, 223, 260, and 165 of the Lagos State Criminal Law of 2015, but Ominikoron has maintained his plea of not guilty.

During his testimony, Ominikoron claimed that after picking up Oluwabamise at Chevron and three male passengers at Agungi, one of the men assaulted him, threatened him with a gun, and forced him to follow their instructions. He stated that while the lights in the bus were on, they were dim to avoid detection by BRT officials.

Ominikoron explained that the male passengers forced him to divert the bus and later dragged Oluwabamise out while she screamed for help. He claimed that he could not intervene due to the threat of the gun. After the men left, he said he searched for Oluwabamise in the bus but did not find her and subsequently abandoned the bus at the toll-gate/7-Up terminal.

When questioned about an audio recording made by Oluwabamise during the incident, Ominikoron said he was unaware of it until it was played to him by the police at Panti Station. He also alleged that he was tortured by the police into making certain statements.

Regarding another incident involving a woman named MaryJane, Ominikoron admitted knowing her but denied raping her. He stated that they had been in a relationship but had not been intimate. He also denied knowing or attempting to rape another woman, a doctor, in December 2021.

The case has been adjourned to October 21, 2024, for the continuation of Ominikoron’s defense.