A Lagos State High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square has reserved judgment in the case against a Bus Rapid Transit driver, Andrew Ominikoron, accused of raping and murdering 22-year-old fashion designer, Oluwabamise Ayanwola, in 2022.
Justice Sherifat Sonaike fixed May 2, 2025, for the verdict after both the prosecution and the defence adopted their final written addresses on Thursday.
The defence counsel, Abayomi Omotubora, argued that the prosecution failed to provide sufficient evidence to establish Ominikoron’s guilt. He stated that none of the testimonies from the nine prosecution witnesses directly linked the defendant to Ayanwola’s death.
Omotubora also dismissed a voice note reportedly sent by the deceased to her friend as inadmissible hearsay, noting that the prosecution failed to call the friend as a witness.
He further challenged the prosecution’s reliance on the “last-seen” doctrine, stressing that mere suspicion was not enough to convict his client without strong circumstantial evidence.
On the testimony of a prosecution witness who alleged she was previously raped by the defendant, the defence argued that it required corroboration.
However, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Dr. Babajide Martins, urged the court to convict the defendant, citing testimonies from key prosecution witnesses.
Martins argued that corroboration was not required in rape cases under Nigerian law. He further noted that the defendant was last seen with Ayanwola and fled to Ososa, Sagamu, Ogun State, instead of reporting to the police—an action he described as highly suspicious.
He added that Ominikoron was later arrested by the Department of State Services in 2022.
On the admissibility of the deceased’s voice note, Martins cited Section 34 of the Nigerian Evidence Act, which allows the court to evaluate and assign probative value to dying declarations.
Ominikoron is facing a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, rape, and murder, brought against him by the Lagos State Government.
He was arraigned in March 2022 for allegedly raping and murdering Ayanwola on February 26, 2022, at the Lekki-Ajah Expressway.
The prosecution told the court that the defendant conspired with others, who are now at large, to commit the crime.
According to the charge, Ominikoron allegedly had unlawful carnal knowledge of Ayanwola and killed her around 7 p.m. between Lekki-Ajah Expressway and Carter Bridge.
The offences, according to the prosecution, contravened Sections 411, 223, 260, and 165 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
Ominikoron, however,pleaded not guilty to the charges.
