Bus Rapid Transit driver, Andrew Ominikoron, has been sentenced to death by hanging by Justice Sherifat Sonaike of the Lagos State High Court, sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square Annexe over the murder of 22-year-old Bamise Ayanwola.

Ominikoron was arraigned on a five-count charge bordering on murder, conspiracy, and rape, in connection with the death of Ayanwola, as well as the sexual assault of Dr. Anosike Victoria and the rape of one Maryland Ojiezelu.

Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Sonaike ruled that the Lagos State Government, which prosecuted the case, had successfully proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt.

“For the death of Oluwabamise Ayanwola, you will be hanged by the neck until you are dead. May God have mercy upon you,” the judge declared in her pronouncement.

The convict was tried on a five-count charge, including conspiracy, rape, murder, and sexual assault, brought against him by the Lagos State Government.

According to the charges, the incident occurred on February 26, 2022, around 7 pm, near the Lekki-Ajah Conservation Centre, Lekki-Ajah Expressway, Lagos.

The prosecution said that Ominikoron had forcibly had sexual intercourse with Oluwabamise Ayanwole before murdering her.

The offences contravened Sections 411, 223, 260, and 165 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.

Bamise was last seen on February 26, 2022, after she boarded a BRT bus driven by Ominikoron in the Ajah area of Lagos.

Her disappearance triggered widespread outrage and a city-wide search.

Her body was discovered nine days later on Carter Bridge, Lagos Island.

During the trial, the State called 11 witnesses who testified against the accused.

The convict who opened his defence on October 17, 2024, denied raping nor killing Oluwabamise.

Operatives of the Nigeria Police Force have arrested popular social media personality and influencer, Martins Vincent Otse, known widely as VeryDarkMan (VDM).

The arrest took place in Abuja followinv his public criticism of Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) over alleged unauthorised transactions from his mother’s account.

His lawyer, Barrister Deji Adeyanju, confirmed the development to The Guardian on Friday in Abuja, revealing that officers of the Nigeria Police Force apprehended VeryDarkMan at Area 3 in Abuja.

He said, “VDM arrested by the police at GTB. Spoke to them before he was arrested. This is absolutely unacceptable. Demanding accountability is not a crime.

“A team of policemen arrested VDM at GTB. He was arrested with his friend C Park, but they left his mom alone.”

The Department of State Security, DSS have given more insight on the case of detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, saying he was not found with any weapon when arrested in 2015.

This DSS made the clarification during the resumed trial of the separatist agitator in Abuja on Friday.

The security agency, through one of its operatives that appeared as a witness in the case, told the court that on October 14, 2015, when Kanu was arrested in one of the rooms in Golden Tulip Hotel, Lagos International Airport, no weapon of terrorism was found on him.

The witness, whose identity was shielded for security reason, told the court that the lady that was found inside the hotel room with the IPOB leader, equally had no weapon in her possession.

Giving his evidence under the codename PWAAA, the witness admitted that most of the items that were retrieved from the hotel room were Kanu’s personal belongings, among which included materials for radio broadcast.

However, the operative who testified behind a protective shield, maintained that though the recovered items may not be ordinarily harmful, he said their intended usage by the defendant could be a source of problem.

While being cross-examined by Kanu’s legal team led by a former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Chief Kanu Agabi, SAN, the witness listed the items recovered from Kanu to include: 1 Black laptop, 2 Multi mix transmitters, 1 Mini white Apple iPad with pouch, 1 Grey Apple iPad with pouch, 1 Grey MacBook with pouch, 1 Grey MacBook with case, 1 Mini drone sound wave speaker, 2 Mini white speakers, 1 Large computer mouse, 1 White adaptor, 1 Laptop adaptor and 1 Carton bag with laptop.

Others are; Two 3G modems, 2 Glo modems, 1 Glo Hawaii modem, 1 MTN modem, 1 Etisalat modem, 1 Flash drive, 1 Camcorder, 1 Hand recorder in a black pouch, 1 MacBook Pro adaptor, 1 Mic stand, 1 Phillips headphone, 1 Radio Sharp mic with cord, 1 Pro sound mic with cord, 1 4G LTE modem, a bunch of cards, 1 Power adaptor for mixer. 2 Easy Blaze white modem, 1 Samsung phone,1 Black Motorola phone and 1 Nokia phone, s well as; 1 Black Samsung phone, 1 Black phone, 1 D-Link black modem,

1 8GB flash drive, 1 Extension wire adaptor, 1 Pair of shoes, 1 Belt, 1 Pair of ciderwood sneakers and1 Footwear, 1 Black Softech wristwatch, 2 Singlets, 1 Sealed Hermes perfume, 1 Trinket, 1 Pokham perfume, 1 Fredrick Peckham wristwatch, 1 Diesel wristwatch, 1 Alexander Christy collection wristwatch, 1 Club wristwatch and10 items altogether.

The last set of items he listed were; 3 Bank MasterCards, Copies of documents, 1 Copy of IPOB complementary card, Documents tagged IPOB, 1 White clipper, 1 Bottle of medicine, 1 Oman perfume, 2 Mini scented oils, 1 Empty black purse, 1 Nigerian passport bearing the names Okwu Kanu Nwannekaibeya Nnamdi Ngozichukwu and 1 British passport bearing the name Okwu Kanu Nwannekaibeya, 1 Black purse, 1 Passport holder, 1 Card holder, 1 Box of Rocarden wristwatch and 4 Bundles of cords.

The recovered items, which were brought before the court in four suitcases, were earlier admitted in evidence and marked as exhibits by trial Justice James Omotosho.

Answering more questions during the cross-examination, the witness, admitted that he did not analyse any of the items as he was only mandated to arrest the defendant and obtain his statement.

Though the PWAAA admitted that Kanu’s phones were eventually analysed, he said the report of the analysis was not tendered before the court as it was not considered important.

The witness acknowledged that since over 10 years that the items were taken away from Kanu and confiscated, they would have lost their value or expired.

More so, the witness admitted that at the time Kanu’s statement was obtained, none of his lawyers were present to observe the process.

Asked if he was aware of other persons also facing trial over Biafra agitation, the witness answered in the negative, saying he does not know any person that is facing a similar trial as Kanu.

He, however, told the court that he is aware that one Simon Ekpa has been arrested and would soon be brought back to Nigeria to face trial for supporting Kanu’s agitation.

Besides, he told the court that he could not remember any time that Kanu complained about corruption in high places, high unemployment rate among youths or when he tendered apologies for insulting the President and Igbo leaders.

The operative further told the court that he could not remember anytime that Kanu described the IPOB as a non-violent voluntary organization.

While acknowledging that there have been killings in some part of the country, especially in the North, the witness said he was aware that the government has been doing its best to stem the tide.

He said he does not know if the killings had anything to do with any form of agitation for self-actualization.

Meanwhile, Justice Omotosho adjourned the matter to May 6, 7 and 8 for continuation of the cross-examination.