BAMISE: NOBODY HIRED US TO GIVE EVIDENCE AGAINST BRT DRIVER - WITNESSES

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By Aishat Momoh. O.

The trial of Andrew Nice Ominnikoron, a BRT driver who allegedly raped and murdered Oluwabamise Ayanwole, a 22-year-old fashion designer, resumed hearing on Thursday, before Justice Sherifat Sonaike of the Lagos High Court, sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square.

At the resumed hearing, the prosecuting witnesses while giving their testimonies, told the court that they were not paid to tarnish the image of the defendant.

Although, the defense counsel Abayomi Omotubora was absent, he sent another counsel E. O. Idogun to hold brief for him.

The case was earlier adjourned due to the defense counsel Abayomi Omotubora’s ill-health.

Idogun apologized for Omotubora’s absence stating that he had been sick and has recovered and but he had an interview with the inspector general at Abuja.

He said, “The interview was not yet concluded so he was told to come again this morning for a continuation.

“He called me this morning to hurriedly come and appear for this matter. He explained to me and said pw2 is yet to conclude his evidence and I should request for an adjournment because he is the one to conclude his examination.

“His absence is not as a result of disrespect but due to circumstances. I would have loved to hold brief for him, Idogun said.

Attorney General of Lagos State, Moyosore Onigbanjo applied that application for adjournment be refused and counsels who appear for the defendants should be directed to hold brief in his absence.

Justice Sherifat Sonaike held that the defense counsel present in court should go on with the cross examination.

While Cross-examining Mr Kayode Aluko, the Field Operations Manager of the Lagos State Bus Service, he mentioned that he knew Andrew Nice as a BRT bus driver.

Meanwhile, two other witnesses were present during today’s sitting to give their testimonies.

ASP Isibor Amos, a police officer, who was made the incident officer, said he was alerted on 26th of February, 2022 about a lifeless body along Ogogoro village, leading to Oyingbo on Carter bridge.

He added that something was thrown down from a moving vehicle and when it was observed by eyewitnesses, they found out that it was a lifeless body.

” I was alerted on 26th of February, 2022 that people were gathered on the express with someone Lying down there. On getting there, I saw a female lifeless body.”

“I gathered that a moving vehicle had thrown something down, and when the observers came close, they saw that it was a lifeless body. They tried to revive her with sachet water but she did not survive it.”

“I was alerted by the charge room officer that there is a crowd gathered close to the station, and there is a need for me to be involved in this case.”

He added that the incident happened in his jurisdiction and that the scene was about 20minutes walk to the police station.

Another witness, Segun Agbe who is a social worker with the Lagos state Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency as a field officer, mentioned that he was assigned on this case on 12th of March, 2022 by his senior colleague, Lola Adeniyi.

Segun Agbe narrated how he visited one of the victim, Mary Jane in her house, where she told him of how she was sexually abused by the BRT driver before visiting the Ajah Police station to incident the matter.

While he was been cross-examined by Mr Idogwu, he said that he was not hired to tarnish the image of Mr Andrew Nice.

“I was assigned on this case on 12th of March, 2022 . I went to Miss Mary Jane, to talk to her about the incident and she narrated to us how everything happened on the bus and how the bus driver sexually abused and torn her clothes.”

“Thereafter, we visited the Ajah Police Station to incident the matter. CSP Oseni and two other officers came to meet us.”

“When we arrived at Ajah Police Station, Mary Jane, made her statement.

When what is duty was as a social worker, he said, “my duty is to help survivors. The survivor in this case is miss Mary Jane, it was another colleague of mine, Imole who went to meet with her. I read social work at Unilag.

Andrew Nice Ominikoron, however, pleaded not guilty to the five-count charge against him.

Justice Sherifat Sonaike, further adjourned till July 7th, 2022, for continuation of trial.