In a twist of development, a prosecution witness, Nneka Maryjane Odezulu, in the ongoing rape and murder trial of the Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) driver, Nice Andrew Ominikoron, on Monday, May 9, narrated to the court how she was raped from behind by the defendant.
Odezulu, the first prosecution witness, who was testifying before Justice Sherifat Sonaike, of Lagos High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa TBS, said the defendant raped her from behind after tearing her clothes.
Odezulu, 29, a sales representative and a mother, said that on November 25, 2021, after she closed her place of work, around 8 pm, she stood at Alesh Hotel Bus Stop, where she saw the BRT bus parked, Vanguard reported.
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She 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.
“Afterwards, 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 up my daughter from after school. That was when I noticed that his manhood was up.
“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 breathe again.
“Then his face changed and he said that if he kills me now, nothing will happen and nobody will know where I am and 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 drop me. He said 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 asked him to please 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.
“A few hours later he called me and said he was sorry. He asked me if I had gotten home, and picked up 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.”
The witness showed the court the striped dress she wore on the day she was raped by the defendant.
It was tendered before the court and the court admitted it in evidence as Exhibit 1.
However, the 47-year-old defendant pleaded not guilty to the charge preferred against him.
Consequently, Justice Sonaike, adjourned the case till June 1.