Ominikoron was arraigned on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit felony, rape, murder, and sexual assault.
The Lagos State High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square on Friday sentenced Andrew Nice Ominikoron, the driver with the Lagos Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system, to death by hanging for the murder of the 22-year-old fashion designer, Bamise Ayanwola.
Delivering judgment, Justice Sherifat Sonaike, ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt, relying on the doctrine of “last seen” and the victim’s dying declaration to establish Ominikoron’s guilt.
Gistcore had reported that Ominikoron was arraigned on a five-count charge bordering on conspiracy to commit felony, rape, murder, and sexual assault.
Bamise was declared missing on February 26, 2022, after boarding a Bus Rapid Transit vehicle from the Ajah area of Lagos to Oshodi and whose body was later found by the police.
Bamise went missing after she boarded a BRT vehicle from Chevron Bus Stop, Ajah to Oshodi around 7pm on February 26, 2022.
During the journey, the fashion designer was said to have observed that the driver was not picking up other passengers at subsequent bus stops along the route.
Disturbed, she messaged her friend and sent voice notes detailing her predicament. It was the last time her friend and family members heard from her and she was later declared missing.
She was later found dead on Carter Bridge, according to the Lagos State Police Command.
Gistcore had also reported that during one of the court proceedings oon Ominikoron’s trial, a witness Goddy Ihende, told the court that Ominikoron always raped his victims in secluded places.
Ihende, a Superintendent of Police, also told the court that apart from Bamise, Ominikoron attempted to rape one Doctor Victoria Anieke.
He said the incident happened on December 29, 2021, when Anieke, who resided in Delta State, came to visit her parents and friend, who resided in the Ketu and Ikorodu areas of Lagos, respectively.
Ihende, who is the seventh prosecution witness, told Justice Sherifat Sonaike that the modus operandi of Ominikoron was to carry his victims alone and go to secluded places to rape them.
The witness, who was led in evidence by the Director of Public Prosecutions, Dr Babajide Martins, said he took over Ominikoron’s case on March 7, 2022, from the Department of State Services.
He said when the matter got to the Homicide Section of the State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba, Ominikoron narrated to him what happened on February 26, when 22-year-old Oluwabamise boarded his bus.
The prosecution said Ominikoron on November 25, 2021, allegedly raped a 29-year-old lady, Maryjane.
The police witness told the court that the statement of Ominikoron was recorded in a video.
It was based on the series of evidence and testimonies against Ominikoron that the judge on Friday sentenced him to death by hanging.
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