A Lagos State High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square has reserved judgment in the trial of Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) driver Andrew-Nice Omokhafe, accused of raping and murdering 22-year-old Bamise Ayanwola in 2022.
Justice Sherifat Sonaike fixed May 2, 2025, for judgment after hearing the final written addresses from both the prosecution and the defense.
Defense counsel Abayomi Omotubora argued that the prosecution failed to present sufficient material evidence to establish his client’s guilt.
He claimed that none of the testimonies from the nine prosecution witnesses directly linked Nice to Ayanwola’s death.
Omotubora also questioned the admissibility of a voice note Bamise reportedly sent to her friend, describing it as hearsay since the friend was not called as a witness.
He further challenged the prosecution’s reliance on the principle of “last seen,” insisting that circumstantial evidence was needed to sustain a conviction.
On the rape charge, Omotubora argued that the testimony of the first prosecution witness, an alleged rape victim of Andrew Nice, required corroboration.
He noted that the prosecution failed to present another alleged victim to testify.
However, Director of Public Prosecutions Babajide Martins maintained that testimonies from key witnesses established Nice’s guilt.
He countered the defense’s argument on corroboration, stating that in rape cases, such a requirement does not apply.
Martins highlighted that Nice was the last person seen with the deceased before her death.
Instead of reporting to the police to clear his name, he fled to Ososa, Sagamu, in Ogun State, where operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) arrested him in 2022.
Addressing the deceased’s voice note, Martins cited Section 34 of the Nigerian Evidence Act, which allows courts to assess the credibility of statements before admitting them as evidence.
He urged the court to ascribe probative value to Bamise’s voice note.
Justice Sonaike has reserved judgment for Friday, May 2, 2025.
Bamise Ayanwola was allegedly kidnapped on February 26, 2022, while on a BRT bus in Lagos.
She was later found dead.
The deceased was the youngest of ten siblings.
