On Thursday, the Lagos State High Court situated at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) scheduled February 15, 2024, for the examination of the “No Case Submission” submitted by Andrew Ominnikoron, the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) driver currently on trial for the demise of his passenger, Oluwabamise Ayanwola.
It was gathered that the hearing for the application was stalled today due to the absence of the defendant’s counsel at a Lagos High Court at Tafawa Balewa Square.
The defendant is arraigned for a five-count charge bordering on alleged rape, conspiracy, felony, sexual assault, and murder preferred against him by the Lagos State Government
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At the resumed hearing, Dr Babajide Martins, Director of Public Prosecutions, informed the court that he had received a call from the defendant’s attorney requesting further time to serve his reply on the grounds of law.
Martins, on the other hand, proposed an extension of time for the defence to file its application properly. After listening to the suggestion, Justice Sherifat Sonaike adjourned the case until Feb. 15 for a hearing on the no-case submission.
Recall that during the previous sitting, the defendant’s counsel asked for further time to make a no-case submission after the prosecution team closed their case.
The prosecution said that the defendant, on Feb. 26, 2022, allegedly had sexual intercourse with Ayanwole without her consent and murdered her at 7 p.m. between Lekki Ajah Expressway and Carter Bridge.
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During the arraignment, the prosecution claimed that Ominnikoron colluded with others now at large to rape and murder his 22-year-old passenger, Ayanwole.
The prosecution also claimed that the defendant and those who are still at large unlawfully killed Ayanwole by tossing her from a moving bus between the Lekki-Ajah Motorway and the Carter Bridge.
The prosecution stated that on November 25, 2021, the defendant allegedly raped another person, a 29-year-old lady named Maryjane Odezulu, without her consent at the Ajah Conservation Centre, Lekki Ajah Motorway, Lagos.
He noted that on December 29, 2021, the defendant sexually molested Dr. Victoria Anuke on the Ketu-Oshodi axis in Lagos.
According to the prosecutor, the offences contravene Sections 165, 223, 260, and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
Photo Credit: Getty
