Andrew Ominikoron, the driver of a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), who allegedly raped and murdered a 22-year-old fashion designer, Oluwabamise Ayanwola, was unable to stand trial on Tuesday due to the absence of his attorney, Abayomi Omotubora.
At the resumed hearing of the case before Justice Sherifat Sonaike of the Lagos High Court, sitting in Tafawa Balewa Square, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Dr. Babajide Martins, announced his appearance for the state and informed the court that Abayomi Omotubora is ill.
Martins said, ” I called Mr. Omotubora and he said he’s sick, and not able to come and I said did you write the court or sent a junior? He said, “no Sir, I apologise”.
“I informed him that we have another date on Thursday, and he said he’s aware. I just want the court to have it on record that we have three witnesses in court and one of them came from out of the jurisdiction. The three witnesses were also in court on June 1, when the defendant was not produced.”
After listening to the DPP, Justice Sonaike Judge adjourned to June 9, 2022, for the continuation of the trial.
At the last sitting of the court on June 1, 2022, the trial also failed to go on as the defendant was not produced in court owing to the ban on commercial motorcycles popularly known as Okada.
The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, had on May 18, 2022, announced a total ban on the operations of an okada in six local government areas in the state with effect from June 1, 2022.
Following the development and a planned protest by the okada riders, the Controller of Prisons, Adebisi Adewale, gave a directive- a temporary suspension of conveying inmates to various courts in the state due to intelligence and security reports of possible breakdown of law and order.
Following this development, Justice Sonaike adjourned the case to today, June 7 and 9, for the continuation of trial.