Nice, Andrew Omininikron, the driver of the Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) that late Bamise Ayanwole, a 22-year-old fashion designer, boarded before she was abducted and later found dead on February 26, has pleaded not guilty to the four charges brought against him by the Lagos state government.
On Tuesday, March 22, Omininikron was arraigned before the State High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square, TBS, on a four-count charge of rape, conspiracy, and murder of his passenger, Oluwabamise Ayanwola.
The presiding judge, Justice Sherifat Sonaike, was told by the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecution, Dr Jide Martins, that on November 25, 2021, the defendant allegedly raped a 29-year-old lady, Nneka Maryjane Ozezulu, without her consent.
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He stated that the incident occurred around 7 p.m. at the Lekki-Ajah Conservation Centre, which is located off the Lekki-Ajah expressway in Lagos.
The DPP also told the court that Andrew Nice conspired with others who are still at large to have sexual intercourse with his 22-year-old passenger, Oluwabamise Ayanwole, without her consent, and then murdered her.
Dr Martins stated that the rape occurred on the Lekki-Ajah Conservation expressway on February 25, 2022, around 8 p.m.
The prosecution counsel also told the court that on February 26, 2022, the defendant and others who are still at large unlawfully killed Oluwabamise Ayanwola by throwing her out of a moving bus at Carter Bridge after having sexual intercourse with her without her consent.
According to the prosecutor, the offenses committed are in violation of and punishable under Sections 411, 223, 260, and 165 of the Lagos State Criminal Laws of 2015.
When all of the charges were read to the defendant, he pleaded not guilty to all of them.
Following his plea, the DPP requested that the defendant be remanded at the Ikoyi prison. He also requested a trial date. With no objections from the defendant’s defense counsel, Mr Isaac Ezeawem, the court ordered that he be remanded at the Ikoyi prison.
The case was then adjourned by the judge to May 9, 10, and 11, 2022, for the start of the trial.
