A prosecution witness, Superintendent of Police, Goddy Ihende in the ongoing murder trial of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) driver, Andrew Ominnikoron, yesterday told a Lagos High Court sitting in Tafawa Balewa Square, that Ominikoron is a serial rapist, who takes delight in rapping his victims in secluded places.
The witness said that apart from the deceased the defendant had attempted to rape one Doctor Victoria Anieke
He told the court that the incident happened on December 29, 2021, when the victim who resides in Delta State, came to visit her parents, and friend who reside at Ketu and Ikorodu area of the state.
Ihende who is the seventh prosecution witness informed Justice Sherifat Soniake that the modus operandi of the defendant was that he always carries his victims alone, and drive them to secluded places to rape them.
Led in evidence by the Director of Public Prosecution Dr. Babajide Martins, said he took over the defendant’s case on March 7, 2022, from the Department of State Service.
He stated that when they got to the office at State Criminal Investigation Department Panti, the defendant narrated to him what happened on February 26, when a 22-year-old fashion designer, Oluwabamise Ayanwole, boarded his bus.
He said ” I took the defendant to our office and asked him to narrate what exactly happened on February 26, after his narration, I asked him to write a statement, he said he couldn’t write, and asked us to assist him in writing the statement.
“Ominnikoron agreed picking Bamise from Cheveron Bus stop at 7pm, and picked two men at two bus stops after Cheveron and one of them pull a gun at him, and ordered him to drive towards Ebutero. He said when they got there they all alighted from the bus and the two men started fight.
” He said that he thought Bamise had gotten back into the bus when he drove off to their deport at 7up.
“I asked him why he didn’t report the case at a Police station or to his boss when he got to their deport, he said he was afraid and could not tell the company because he contravened the rule of not picking passenger after 6pm.
” He said the next day was his off day so he went to see his friend. As soon as I took his statement, I took him to my immediate boss ASP Razak Oseni and he narrated exactly what he old me before my boss.
“My investigation of the defendant revealed that he takes his victims to secluded places, switches off the light in side the bus and then rape his victims.
” On March 29, 2022, I travelled to Delta State and when I met Dr. Anieke, I asked her how she got to know about the defendant, she said that it was on the internet, and when she zoomed the picture of Bamise and the defendant, she discovered that he was the same driver that attempted to rape her.
“Before Bamise, he succeeded in raping another passenger Mary Jane on November 24, 2021, ” the witness said.
Ominnikoron is facing a five-count charge bordering on rape, conspiracy, felony, sexual assault, and murder preferred against him by the Lagos state government.
The prosecution said that the defendant on November 25, 2021, allegedly raped a 29 year -old lady Maryjane Odezulu, without her consent.
The incident took place at about 8pm, at Lekki- Ajah Conservation centre Lekki Ajah expressway Lagos.
The Prosecution also told the court that Ominnikoron conspired with others now at large to rape and murdered his 22-year-old passenger.
It said that the defendant had sexual intercourse with Ayanwole, without her consent and murdered her, at about 7pm, between Lekki Ajah expressway and Carter bridge, on February, 26, 2022.
The prosecution also alleged that the defendant and others now at large on February 26, 2022, unlawfully killed one Ayanwole by throwing her out of a moving bus between Lekki- Ajah expressway and Cater bridge.
The defendant was also accused of sexually assaulting a 29 year old woman one Victoria Anieke, on December 29, 2021, between Ikorodu and Mile 12 area of Lagos State.
According to the prosecutor, the offences committed is contrary to and punishable under Sections 411,223,260 and 165 of the criminal law of Lagos State 2015.
However, the 47-year-old defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him.
The witness also told the court that the statement of the defendant was
recorded in a video.
Meanwhile when the prosecution sought to tender the recorded video in evidence, the defence counsel Abayomi Omotubora objected to the admisibility of the compact disc.
He said the statement of the defendant was not taken voluntarily and asked the court to conduct a trial within trial.
After listening to the argument of both counsel Justice Sonaike adjourned till October, 31, for trial within trial.
Earlier the defence counsel Omotubora had told the court that the defence wishes to recall the 2nd, 3rd an 4th witnesses for further cross examination of the witnesses.
He told the court that they had filed an application dated September 27, seeking to have the three witnesses for further cross examination.
