Counsel Requests Adjournment To Conclude No-Case Filing In BRT Rape, Murder Trial
Abayomi Omotubora, counsel to the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) driver, Andrew Ominikoron, charged with rape and murder of a 22-year-old fashion designer, has requested more time to file his no-case submission.
Ominnikoron is facing a five-count charge bordering on rape, conspiracy, felony, sexual assault and murder preferred against him by the Lagos government.
At the resumed hearing on Tuesday, the counsel told the Tafawa Balewa Square Division of the Lagos High Court that he had, at the last proceeding, shown his intention to file a no-case submission.
Mr Omotubora, however, told the court that the application for a no-case submission was at the filing stage.
He said the prosecution would be served immediately after the filing was complete.
The counsel, therefore, urged the court to adjourn the case to enable him to conclude the filing of his application and serve the prosecution.
Justice Sherifat Sonaike adjourned the case until February 8 to continue the hearing.
The prosecution had, during arraignment, told the court that Ominnikoron conspired with others now at large, raped and murdered his 22-year-old passenger, Oluwabamise Ayanwole.
The prosecution said that the defendant, on February 26, 2022, had sexual intercourse with Ayanwole without her consent and murdered her at 7 p.m. between Lekki Ajah expressway and Carter Bridge.
The prosecution also alleged that the defendant and others now at large unlawfully killed Ayanwole by throwing her out of a moving bus between the Lekki-Ajah expressway and the bridge.
The prosecution also said the defendant, on November 25, 2021, allegedly raped a 29-year-old lady, Maryjane Odezulu, without her consent at Ajah Conservation Centre, Lekki Ajah Expressway Lagos.
It said the defendant also sexually harassed a medical doctor, Victoria Anuke, on the Ketu-Oshodi axis, Lagos, on December 29, 2021.
According to the prosecutor, the offences contravened sections 165, 223, 260, and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
The defendant pleaded not guilty to all the charges. (NAN)
