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Tag: Bamise

  • Bamise: Defendant’s absence stalls trial as court adjourns till October

    Bamise: Defendant’s absence stalls trial as court adjourns till October

    A Lagos State High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square has again adjourned the trial of a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) driver, Andrew Ominnikoron, accused of the rape and murder of a 22-year-old fashion designer, Oluwabamise Ayanwole, due to the defendant’s leg injury.

    According to an official from the Ikoyi Correctional Centre, the defendant Ominikoron fell while using the bathroom on Sunday, June 23, and sustained an injury on his left leg which resulted in his absence in court on June 24.

    Ominikoron, 47, is facing a five-count charge of rape, conspiracy, felony, sexual assault, and murder preferred against him by the Lagos State Government.

    According to the charge, the incident occurred on February 26, 2022, at about 7 pm, near the Lekki- Ajah Conservation Centre, Lekki-Ajah Expressway, Lagos.

    The prosecution alleged that the defendant had forcible sexual intercourse with Oluwabamise Ayanwole, before murdering her.

    The alleged offences were said to contravene Sections 411, 223, 260 and 165 of the Criminal Law of Lagos state, 2015.

    Ominnikoron, however, pleaded not guilty.

    At the resumption of proceedings before Justice Sherifat Sonaike on Monday, June 24, Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Babajide Martins announced his appearance for the prosecution while Abayomi Omotubora who has been absent consecutively announced his appearance for the defendant.

    Justice Sonaike went on to ask the defence counsel why the defendant was not in court and Omotubora replied, saying that the defendant fell seriously while using the bathroom and could not make it to court due to a leg injury.

    “He fell seriously, he cannot walk well”, Omotubora said.

    It should be recalled that the case has been stalled countless times due to the incessant absence of the defence counsel, Omotubora.

    Justice Sonaike ordered that the official from the Ikoyi Correctional Centre be called to ascertain the reason the defendant was not produced in court.

    When the official was quizzed by the Judge, he said, “The defendant had a fracture on his left leg.

    When he was quizzed further he said: “When I went to bring him fetch him this morning I saw that he had been taken to the clinic by the warder of his cell. His cellmate told me they were taking him to the hospital. I saw him being taken to the hospital this morning by two people.

    The judge said she just wanted to know the steps taken in treating him to know what date to fix for adjournment.

    The DPP said he was not satisfied that the official from the correctional centre could not clearly state the reason for the defendant’s absence and would be making an official complaint in that regard.

    He said: “I do not like the fact that the official from the correctional centre could not clearly state the reason for the defendant’s absence.

    “The defense counsel who was not with the defendant gave us more details therefore I will be making an official complaint in that regard.”

    The judge requested that the DPP should follow up to ascertain the reason for his absence and to ensure that the defendant does not fall on his right leg in the next sitting.

    The reason you gave me was different from the reason you gave me for your absence Martin said.

    Consequently, Omotubora stated that he would not have taken an expensive flight from another state to Lagos if he knew the defendant would not be in court.

    However, Justice Sonaike reprimanded him saying: “You took up this brief, so you must be here, once we agree to be here you should be available.

    Read Also: Bamise: Court fixes February 15 for ruling

    Show some respect and decorum to the court.

    Omotubora argued that he sent a colleague to hold a brief for him at the last sitting. However Justice Sonaike stated that the person he sent was as good as not being in court, and this is not a take in court.

    The judge thereafter ordered the counsel to ensure his presence at the next adjourned date and the counsel agreed to be in court.

    Justice Sonaike stated that given the Ikoyi Correctional Centre’s information, the defendant fell on June 23.

    The former pre-planned date which was July 3rd, has been vacated.

    The matter was hereby adjourned till October 17 and 24, 2024 for continuation of trial.

  • Bamise: Court fixes date for adoption of no-case submission

    Bamise: Court fixes date for adoption of no-case submission

    Failure of defense counsel to serve the prosecution its no-case submission application file has led to the adjournment of the alleged rape and murder trial of Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) driver, Andrew Nice Ominikoron, before a Lagos High Court, Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS).

    Ominikoron, 47, is facing a five-coujt charge of rape, conspiracy, felony, sexual assault, and murder of 22-year-old fashion designer, Bamise Ayanwole, before Justice Sherifat Sonaike. At the resumed trial yesterday, State Counsel, M.A. Olateju, informed the court that the defense lawyer, Abayomi Omotubora, at the last sitting, told the court that he would be filing a no-case submission.

    But Omotubora explained that the prosecution was yet to be served because the filing had not been completed.

    “We need a little time in order to complete filing. All that is left to be done is just scanning and that will be done as soon as possible,” Abayomi told the court.

    Read Also: We’ll embark on massive education effort to combat insecurity – Tinubu 

    Olateju however, suggested a further date to enable the defense to file its no-case submission properly.

    After hearing the plea, Justice Sonaike adjourned the case till February 8, for the defense to adopt its no-case submission.

    According to the charge, the incident occurred on February 26, 2022, at about 7pm, near the Lekki-Ajah Conservation Centre, Lekki-Ajah Expressway, Lagos.

    The prosecution alleged that the defendant had forcible sexual intercourse with Oluwabamise Ayanwole, before murdering her.

    The alleged offences were said to contravene Sections 411, 223, 260 and 165 of the Criminal Laws of Lagos State, 2015.

    Ominnikoron pleaded not guilty.

  • Bamise’s death caused by blunt force trauma, pathologist tells court

    Bamise’s death caused by blunt force trauma, pathologist tells court

    A Pathologist at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH), Professor Sunday Shoyemi, on Friday, October 20, told a Lagos State High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS), that Oluwabamise Ayanwola’s death was caused by a blunt force trauma.

    Shoyemi, the ninth and last prosecuting witness while giving evidence before Justice Sherifat Sonaike, said that the 22-year-old fashion designer, Oluwabamise Ayanwola, who was allegedly raped and killed by a BRT driver, in the light of his findings, died as a result of severe craniocerebral injury following a blunt force trauma.

    Andrew Nice Ominnikoron, a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) driver is facing five-count charges bordering on felony, sexual assault, rape, conspiracy, and murder before Justice Sherifat Sonaike.

    Led in evidence by the Director of Public Prosecution, Dr. Babajide Martins, Prof. Shoyemi, narrated to the court how the autopsy was conducted.

    In his narration, he mentioned that the body had no clothing but a silver-coloured ring was found on her (Bamise) middle finger.

    He said: “I observed a bruise on the left side of her forehead, another on the right temple just above her ear, and a large bruise on the back of her skull. In addition, there was a bruise on the elbow region.”

    All these findings according to the pathologist were all on the external appearance of the deceased while adding that all these observations were before when the autopsy was conducted.

    Read Also: Bamise Ayanwola: Lagos Assembly revisits case of murdered BRT passenger

    “Upon opening up, there’s what we call Subdural hematoma, which means bleeding into the soft tissue covering the skull or bleeding into the brain. This was noticed on the frontal area as well as the back of the skull. Again, there was a fracture of the temporal bone, meaning the bone above the ear.”

    “I checked for deep bruising, meaning ‘the bruises we will not be able to see under the skin unless it is removed. These deep bruises were found on both lower lips. The organs were essentially normal except the right ovary which has a cyst (Fluid Collection).”

    This according to him, was an incidental finding which has nothing to do with death.

    He went further to tell the court that, “Tiny samples were taken from all the organs and were sent to the Laboratories. The samples were looked at under the microscope and no remarkable findings were seen.”

    “I specifically took samples of the breast and uterus to check for pregnancy but nothing was found. In the light of both the external and internal findings, death was ascribed to severe craniocerebral injury, following a blunt force trauma.

    Prof. Shoyemi also told the court that, during the examination, he took samples from the deceased for identification while adding that another sample was taken for toxicology, which has also been sent to the Lagos State DNA forensic Lab.

    He clarified that the interim report had been given to the Investigating Police Officer, CSP Oseni, the head of homicide, State Criminal Investigation Department SCID, Panti, who was also present during the autopsy and gave the full report to the DPP.

    While being cross-examined by Abayomi Omotubora, the defence counsel, the witness confirmed to the court that the IPO provided all the information about the deceased before the autopsy was conducted.

    He however clarified that the information provided by the IPO does not form the basis of the cause of death of Bamise.

    After the cross-examination, Mr. Omotubora called the attention of the court on a pending application dated 21st of September 2023, to recall some of the prosecuting witnesses.

    “We have a pending application to recall some of the Prosecution witnesses for the purpose of further cross-examination by the defence.”

    In response to the defence, Dr. Babajide Martins opposed the application to recall the witnesses.

    After listening to the argument of both counsels, Justice Sonaike reserved her ruling for November 2, 2023, and the continuation of the trial.

  • Bamise Ayanwola: Lagos Assembly revisits case of murdered BRT passenger

    Bamise Ayanwola: Lagos Assembly revisits case of murdered BRT passenger

    The Lagos State House of Assembly is revisiting the case of the late Bamise Ayanwola, 22-year-old fashion designer who was murdered in a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) in February 2022.

    To this end, the House would be inviting her family, government agencies and the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR) for an update on the case which is still in court.

    Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, said the issue, brought up by Steve Ogundipe under ‘Matter of Urgent Public Importance’ was worthy of deliberation. Obasa also praised the CDHR for bringing the issue to the fore again.

    Read Also: I sold BRT tickets to pursue my career – Singer Oxlade

    He said: “Bamise’s matter was brought to this House when it happened, and I received the protesters, but at that point, the case was before the police and the court of law.

    “Unfortunately, the judiciary is an institution on its own, and we do not have the power to dabble into its activities. We cannot compel the judiciary, but can only lend our voice by saying the people are eager to know the latest on the case.

    “We need to invite the family, civil society groups and the agency of government with a role to play so they can let us know how far they have gone.

    “If we are encouraging people to make use of public transportation, then we must build that confidence that they are safe. All the buses on our roads must have CCTV cameras. Our new trains and terminals should also have. The essence of this is to prevent crime. Security is very crucial.”

    Obasa noted that if the late Bolanle Raheem, who was murdered in six months, could get justice, there should also be justice for the late Bamise.

  • Fresh facts emerge on Bamise, 22, missing from BRT

    Fresh facts emerge on Bamise, 22, missing from BRT

    • Missing Bamise was going to brother’s house on surprise visit – Sister

    • Devastated family members lament mysterious disappearance

    • Say police have arrested guarantors of bus driver

    The family of Oluwabamise Ayanwola, the 22-year-old female fashion designer whose whereabouts became unknown after she boarded a BRT bus from Chevron Estate in Ajah on her way to Oshodi on February 26, is in deep sorrow over the incident.

    In a chat with our correspondent yesterday, Bamise’s sibling, Elizabeth, lamented alleged abduction of her sister by the driver of the bus, identified as Nice Andrew Omininikoron.

    Although the operators of the bus said they were awaiting the outcome of police investigation into the matter, the driver, The Nation learnt, was still at large.

    Elizabeth told our correspondent yesterday that her missing sister was heading to the brother’s house at Ikotun to stay with the wife who was in ‘labour’.

    She reportedly boarded the bus with number 240257 at 7:30pm and became suspicious when the driver told her to sit at one of the back seats.

    Bamise’s last movement

    Narrating her sister’s last movement, Elizabeth said: “On Saturday evening (February 26), my sister closed at 7 pm. She normally had breaks on Sundays. She works at Ajah as a fashion designer and normally works from Monday to Saturday.

    “So when she closed on Saturday (February 26), she wanted to go to my brother’s house because his wife was in labour. My brother stays at Ikotun (a Lagos suburb).

    “My missing sister’s house is in Ogun State, Ota precisely. She stays with our aunt who is the first born.

    “She called my brother three days before then that she would be coming but she did not know when. On the day she left Ajah, she wanted to surprise my brother by not telling him that she was already on her way.

    “She boarded a bus from Chevron Bus Stop. When she entered the BRT bus, it was only her, and there was no light inside the bus.

    “She had felt safe inside the BRT bus since it is a popular state bus, but she wondered why it was only her that was in the bus and the driver didn’t pick any other passenger.

    “She was even conversing with a colleague of hers because she felt unsafe. She was sending voice notes to her friend. Her friend advised her to drop since the driver didn’t pick up any other passenger.

    “Before entering, she informed her friend that the driver was passing some remarks at her but she did n’t answer.

    “So later on, the driver later picked up three people on the road: two men and a lady. Then she now felt calm.

    “Before the driver picked the three other persons who had disguised as passengers, she made several videos of the bus and the driver and sent it to her friend. The video captured the bus number. It helped us in tracking the bus.

    “Her phone was not low. It is a new phone she just bought three weeks ago. Her friend chatted with her several times, but she didn’t reply.

    “She tried calling her via normal call a few minutes to 8 pm, but she didn’t pick up.

    “Around 7:32 pm, she posted ‘God, it is your protection I need’ on her Whatsapp status.

    “I saw the status but I didn’t see it on time because I was not online.

    “After repeated calls, her friend said she heard some voices underneath trying to struggle to get the phone from her.”

    Distraught mother

    As would be expected, Bamise’s mother of 10 — five boys and five girls — has been seriously disturbed since her daughter went missing. In one of the viral videos seen by The Nation, the distraught mother was seen wailing in front of a bus numbered 240257, at one of the terminals of LBSL, said to be the bus Bamise had boarded.

    “This is the vehicle that Bamise boarded. It has been parked. They say they cannot find the driver. Bamise boarded the vehicle at Ajah and said she was going to Oshodi. “The vehicle got to its destination but the child did not get home. We can’t find her. They must find Bamise for me. I didn’t tell her to go to Lagos to die.”

    ‘How her friend alerted us about her plight’

    Asked how the family learnt about Bamise’s plight, Elizabeth said: “It was her friend who was chatting with her that alerted us.

    “She called one of my brothers to ask for her whereabouts, but he said he had not seen her.

    “I was even in church when they told me that they could not reach her.

    “My sister is someone I can vouch for because she is focused and determined. I’ve been crying because I am devastated.

    “Since the day she went missing, we’ve been going around different stations. We tracked the driver and the phone number of my sister.

    “When we tracked it independently of the police, we tracked it down to Oshodi terminal station. When we got there, they didn’t answer us properly.

    “We were told the driver was supposed to resume by 2 pm, but we didn’t know he was around and we were there till 3/4pm.

    “We later learnt the following day that the driver was around but took to his heels when he learnt that there was trouble.

    “We went to Maroko and Ajah police stations to lodge complaints and we’ve been shuffling through these stations.

    “We had to look for his guarantors. After locating one of his guarantors, we were told by the elder brother of the guarantor that his junior brother was not aware he was being used as a guarantor.

    “The other guarantor stays at Ekoro axis, while the other stays at Ikoyi axis. They’ve been arrested.

    “We’ve spoken with the Commissioner of Police. He had a phone call meeting with the terminal operators and the family to ask for questions that would aid investigation.

    “We’ve sent SOS to the governor for about four days but there is no response. We’ve even gone on social media but the government has not given an audience.

    “All I want is for my sister to be found. We were told to write a letter to the terminal but they refused us access.

    “The police are not taking this issue for granted; they are putting themselves in our shoes because they are handling the case properly”

    Last location tracked

    According to Elizabeth, the family made an attempt to track the driver’s location and it showed through his phone that he was two streets away from where her missing sister is.

    “The last location of the phone tracked is in Ogun State, but the driver is currently on the run.

    “We were told that the bus that is directly involved in this whole issue is still operating. This is insensitive.

    “Everyone has been disturbed since Saturday that she went missing. The whole family is devastated. We need God’s intervention. I have been fasting and praying.”

    Matter under investigation

    When The Nation visited the Oshodi terminal on Saturday, normal operations were ongoing with various buses loading commuters for various destinations.

    A staff at the terminal, who did not want to be named, said the Oshodi bus terminal is where BRT buses usually load to various destinations and that the family had been directed to Lagos Bus Services Limited where the case would be handled.

    He however noted that the terminal operators had escalated the matter because the issue became a stain on the terminal.

    “When the family came, they were angry and wanted to create a scene. I now advised them to go to LBS where the matter would be handled, so they are on it.

    “The police are investigating too”.

    The Nation learnt that Bamise’s family had held a meeting with the Lagos Bus Service Ltd. (LBSL), operators of BRT, on Wednesday, March 2, and the latter assured that efforts were being made to track down the driver.

    Police spokesman in Lagos, Adekunle Ajisebutu, who confirmed the incident, said it was under investigation.

    “The Commissioner of Police, Abiodun Alabi, has directed that no stone should be left unturned to locate her whereabouts. Search parties have also been organised,” Ajisebutu said.