A Lagos State High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square has set May 2, 2025, as the date to deliver judgment in the murder case of 22-year-old fashion designer Oluwabamise Ayanwola, who was allegedly raped and killed by Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) driver Andrew Ominikoron in 2022.
Justice Sherifat Sonaike fixed the date on Thursday after both the prosecution and defense lawyers presented their final arguments before the court.
Defense Argues Lack of Evidence
Ominikoron’s lawyer, Abayomi Omotubora, urged the court to acquit his client, arguing that the prosecution failed to present strong evidence linking him to Ayanwola’s death.
“None of the nine prosecution witnesses provided direct evidence proving that the defendant was responsible for her death,” Omotubora told the court.
He also questioned the credibility of a voice note reportedly sent by the deceased to her friend before she went missing.
“The prosecution failed to bring the friend to testify in court. This makes the voice note inadmissible hearsay,” he said.
The defense also challenged the “last-seen” doctrine, which states that a person last seen with a victim before their death may be held responsible. Omotubora insisted that suspicion alone was not enough to convict Ominikoron without solid proof.
In addition, the defense disputed the testimony of another woman who claimed the defendant had raped her in the past.
“A rape allegation requires corroboration. One person’s claim is not enough to convict a man of such a serious offense,” Omotubora argued.
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Prosecution Calls for Conviction
However, Dr. Babajide Martins, the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), asked the court to convict the defendant, saying the evidence presented was strong enough to prove his guilt.
Martins reminded the court that Ominikoron was the last person seen with Ayanwola before she was found dead. Instead of reporting to the police, the defendant fled to Ososa, Sagamu, Ogun State, before he was later arrested by the Department of State Services (DSS) in 2022.
“His actions show clear consciousness of guilt,” Martins told the court.
He also dismissed the defense’s claim that the rape testimony required corroboration, stating that Nigerian law does not demand additional witnesses in rape cases.
The prosecution further defended the admissibility of Ayanwola’s voice note, citing Section 34 of the Nigerian Evidence Act, which allows a court to use dying declarations as evidence.
“The law is clear—when a person makes a statement believing they are about to die, the court can admit it as evidence,” Martins explained.
The Charges Against Ominikoron
The Lagos State Government first arraigned Ominikoron in March 2022 on four charges of conspiracy, rape, and murder.
According to court records, he raped and killed Ayanwola on February 26, 2022, while she was a passenger in his BRT bus along the Lekki-Ajah Expressway.
The prosecution said Ominikoron conspired with others, who are still at large, to commit the crime. He allegedly had unlawful carnal knowledge of Ayanwola and later murdered her between the Lekki-Ajah Expressway and Carter Bridge around 7 p.m.
The charges against him fall under Sections 411, 223, 260, and 165 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Despite the overwhelming allegations, Ominikoron has pleaded not guilty to all charges.
With final arguments now concluded, the court will deliver its judgment on May 2, 2025. The ruling will determine whether Ominikoron will face conviction and possible life imprisonment or be set free due to lack of evidence.