Court sentences Lagos State Bus Rapid Transit driver to death for rape, murder

The Lagos State Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) driver, Andrew Ominikoron, has been sentenced to death by hanging by the Lagos High Court at Tafawa Balewa Square for the murder of his passenger, Oluwabamise Ayanwola.

Penpushing reports that the convict was arraigned for rape and murder of a 22-year-old fashion designer, Ayanwola, who boarded his Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) bus on February 26, 2022, while it is recalled that the prosecution, through its witnesses, proved that the act of the defendant caused the death of Anyawola.

The prosecution called nine witnesses, while Ominikoron was the sole witness for the defence, and in addition he said the defendant also raped one Nneka Udezulu and sexually assaulted one Victoria Anosike along Ikorodu Mile 12 axis of Lagos State.

Penpushing further reports that the prosecution told the court that the offences committed by the defendant who was arraigned on March 22, 2022 contravened Sections 411, 223, 260, and 165 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

The trial judge Justice Sherifat Sonaike in her judgment found Ominikoron guilty of murder and attempted rape of Anyawola, and also found the convict guilty of raping Nneka Udezulu and sexually assaulting Victoria Anosike, who had boarded his bus on separate occasions.

“On count one, which is offence of raping Nneka Udezulu, Ominikoron, is sentenced to life imprisonment. For count three, attempted rape of Anyawola, you are sentenced to 14 years imprisonment’, the judge declared.

“For count five, offence of sexual assault on Dr Victoria Anosike, you are sentenced to three years imprisonment. On count four, which is the offence of murder of Oluwabamise Ayanwola; having been found guilty of murder, a capital offence pursuant to Section 301 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law, the defendant is hereby sentenced to death. You will be hanged by the neck until you be dead. May God have mercy on your soul’, she held.

Penpushing also reports that the judge held that the prosecution proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt, pointing out that the prosecution, through its witnesses, proved that the act of the defendant (Ominikoron) caused the death of the deceased (Anyawola).

The judge pointed out that the voice recording of the deceased, which she sent to her friend while inside the defendant’s bus, would be admitted as a dying declaration, adding that the deceased’s voice recording was made when she felt she was in imminent danger due to the behaviour of the defendant.

Penpushing reports that Sonaike added that Anyawola’s voice recording and the pieces of evidence given by the prosecution witnesses on the habit of the defendant in picking up unsuspecting passengers in a lonely area and sexually molesting them, even with threat and force, showed that the defendant was a serial rapist.

“All the circumstantial evidence, coupled with the defendant’s refusal to report the matter to his office and his running away to a remote village before his arrest, shows a guilty mind. I find the ingredient of murder established beyond all reasonable doubt’, the judge held.

Penpushing further reports that she said that the defendant lied throughout his defence, and the fact that he(defendant) said he regretted the death of Anyawola was to play sentiment to the court.

“The fact that the defendant committed these offences within three months interval shows that maybe there are more victims who because of shame failed to come forward. The defendant used his employment to rape unsuspecting passengers. This is an unforgivable crime. This case is an eye opener. There is need for government to overhaul the recruitment standard so that parents will be assured when their young girl board a vehicle’.

FOOTNOTE: You want to share story with us? You want to advertise with us? You need publicity for product, or service, or   event? Contact us on WhatsApp +2348073463653 or email [email protected]