Bamise's murder: The Lagos government rejects the family's fiat application as the trial begins on Monday

The trial of Bus Rapid Transport (BRT) driver Andrew Nice Ominnikoron will begin on Monday, May 9, 2022, in the Lagos State Superior Court at Tafawa Balewa Square.

Andrew Nice was indicted before Judge Serifat Sonaike on March 22 on a four-count charge bordering on rape, conspiracy and murder of his passenger Bamise Ayanwola.

Before the trial began, the family of the late Bamise Ayanwola had written to Lagos Attorney General Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN) requesting an injunction to prosecute the accused Andrew Ominikoron.

In a letter dated May 4, 2022, signed by the family's attorney, Adesina Ogunlana, the late family said they wished for a more independent body to carry out the prosecution, particularly as they believed the Lagos state government agency and Officials are involved in this matter and they cannot reasonably be expected to act as prosecutors against themselves.

But the public prosecutor's office rejected the application.

The head of the public prosecutor's office (DPP) Dr. Jide Martins said the state government has a constitutional responsibility to prosecute the case and will not shirk that responsibility.

The DPP also said its office has extensive experience in prosecuting cases of this type and its history shows that it has prosecuted many murder cases in the past.

Dr Martins also specifically said it is not the first time the DPP's office has prosecuted state government officials.

At the last court session, DPP Judge Sonaike announced that the defendant allegedly raped a 29-year-old woman, Nneka Maryjane Ozezulu, on November 25, 2021.

He said the incident happened around 7:00 p.m. at the Lekki-Ajah Conservation Center off the Lekki Ajah Expressway in Lagos. The DPP also told the court that Andrew Nice conspired with others who are now at large and violently had sexual intercourse with Oluwabamise, a fashion designer, after which he murdered her.

Dr Martins said the rape incident occurred around 8 p.m. on February 25, 2022, on the Lekki-Ajah Conservation Expressway. He said that on February 26, 2022, the defendant and others who remained at large unlawfully killed an Oluwabamise Ayanwole by throwing her from a moving bus at Cater Bridge after forcefully engaging in sexual intercourse with her.

According to the prosecutor, the offences committed violate and are punishable under Sections 411, 223, 260 and 165 of the Lagos State Criminal Code, 2015.

When all the charges were read to the defendant, he pleaded not guilty to the charges against him.

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