A prosecution witness, Nneka Maryjane Odezulu, in the ongoing rape and murder trial of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) driver, Andrew Ominnikoron, on Monday, May 9, testified before the Lagos High Court about how she was brutally raped by the defendant.
Odezulu, the first prosecution witness, told Justice Sherifat Sonaike, that the defendant assaulted her from behind after ripping her garments.
She claimed the defendant told her she wasn’t a baby and asked her to take off her clothes.
Moyosore Onigbanjo (SAN), the Lagos State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, led the witness in cross-examination, according to The Vanguard.
She stated that before the defendant raped her, he slapped her and held her neck so tight she couldn’t breath.
Odezulu, a 29-year-old sales representative and mother, said she stood at Alesh Hotel Bus Stop at 8 pm on November 25, 2021, after closing from work, where she observed the BRT bus stopped.
She approached the driver (the defendant) and asked if he would take her to her bus stop, Jakande, which he agreed to.
So she inquired about the fare and was informed that it was N100; she boarded the bus and sat at the back.
A man approached the defendant about four seconds later and inquired if he was going to Oshodi, according to the witness.
He agreed, and they began haggling about the price until the man walked away without boarding the bus.
Odezulu said: “When I entered the BRT, the lights were on, but on getting to Lekki Conservation, Lekki-Ajah Expressway, he stopped the bus.
“He then brought out a drug and took it with water. I did not bother myself because I thought it was a normal medication.
“After that he asked me to come to the front seat, asking why I am sitting at the back.
“Then I stood up and went to sit at the front. Then he started asking me questions: my name, age, where I live; in the process, he brought out his phone and talked about two transactions.
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“Afterwards, he said ‘back to our discussion’; and said let’s go and park somewhere and discuss.
“I said sir, I am coming back from work ,tired and need to go and pick my daughter from after school. That was when I noticed that his manhood was up.
“I held the chair, begging while he raped me from behind.
“Then I brought out my phone, wanted to call somebody and record what was happening.
“He was like ‘what are you doing? Who do you want to call?’ He got up from the driver’s seat and collected my phone from me.
“He held on to a small knife and dragged me to the back and said I should pull off my clothes. I refused and we started dragging.
“He said I should remove everything because I was not a baby. He slapped me and held my neck and wanted to strangle me; I couldn’t breath again.
“Then his face changed and he said that if he kills me now, nothing will happen and nobody will know where I am that I should respect myself.
“He pushed me down at the back seat, I held the seats and was begging him. He held the knife, tore my clothes and raped me from the back.
“After that I told him to let me alight from the bus. He reminded me that I told him that I was going to Jakande, and he would drop me at my bus stop.
“On getting to my bus stop, I begged him to give me my phone and open the door for me. He started apologising that he was sorry for everything that happened.
“He said I should give him my account number, I told him, I don’t need his money.
“Then he said that I am being stubborn, that I don’t want to give him my account number.
“So I gave him my account number and he sent N3,000 and said I should use it to buy pain killers.
“He asked me to give him my phone number, I gave him before he gave me back my phone and then opened the bus door.
“Then I used my phone to record the plate number from the back.
“Few hours later he called me and said he was sorry. He asked me if I had gotten home, picked my daughter from after-school.
“I did not answer any of his questions. Then I ended the call. He called me back the next day and subsequently, but I did not pick his calls.”
“After the incident, whenever I’m coming back from work and see any BRT bus, I looked inside to see if it was him.
“I have seen him like four times at that Chevron Tollgate, when he passed,” Odezulu added.
When asked if she reported the rape case to the police, she responded no, claiming that she had a horrible experience with the Jakande police and that if she had, they would have humiliated her.
The witness displayed the striped dress she was wearing on the day she was raped by the defendant in court.
It was presented to the court, and it was accepted as Exhibit 1 in evidence.
The 47-year-old defendant, on the other hand, pled not guilty to the accusation brought against him.
Consequently, Justice Sonaike adjourned the case till tomorrow (Tuesday) to allow the trial to continue.
