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, was stalled at the Lagos State High Court, Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS) on Wednesday.
At the resumed hearing of 6the case today, June 1st, the Director of Public Persecution (DPP), Babajide Martins informed the presiding judge, Justice Sherifat Sonaike, that the Nigerian Correctional Service in Ikoyi had decided not to bring the inmate to court following the rumored plans by some commercial motorcyclists to stage a protest due to the ban imposed by the state government.
READ HERE: BRT Bus Driver Arrested Over The Abduction, Murder Bamise Ayanwole Speaks
He added that the Lagos Island area has been known to be a hotbed during such incidents and they didn’t want any inmate to take advantage of riots to escape.
Three witnesses were present in court to testify against the defendant.
Recall that the Lagos state government imposed a ban on motorcycle operations in sex local government areas of the state after a mob attack that led to the death of a sound engineer, David Imoh, in the Lekki area of the state. The ban took effect today.
Two prosecution witnesses have testified so far in the case, a 29-year-old alleged victim who testified that the defendant raped her in the bus last November.
At the last hearing, another witness, Kayode Aluko, a Fleet Operations manager at the Lagos Bus Services Limited, had explained how the company employs its drivers and was billed to continue giving evidence on Wednesday.
The judge adjourned the matter to the earlier scheduled dates, June 7 and 9 for the continuation of the trial.
