“I therefore urge the federal government and the Inspector-General of Police to take over this investigation immediately, before the case is completely compromised.”
Human rights lawyer, Ebun-Olu Adegboruwa, has urged the Nigerian government and the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, to take over the investigation into the murder of 22-year-old fashion designer, Oluwabamise Ayanwole, inside a Lagos State Bus Rapid Transit.
Adegboruwa said it was clear that the Lagos State Government had been compromised in the probe going by a “media packaging” of the principal suspect in the matter, Nice Andrew Omininikoron, the driver of BRT vehicle where he denied killing the lady.
Bamise went missing after she boarded a BRT vehicle from Chevron Bus Stop, Ajah to Oshodi around 7pm on February 26.
During the journey, the fashion designer was said to have observed that the driver was not picking up other passengers at subsequent bus stops along the route.
Disturbed, she messaged her friend and sent voice notes detailing her predicament. It was the last time her friend and family members heard from her and she was later declared missing.
On Monday, she was found dead on Carter Bridge, according to the Lagos State Police Command.
Speaking in a release on Tuesday, Adegboruwa said, “Events unfolding concerning the murder of Miss Oluwabamishe Ayanwole are as intriguing as they are worrisome. Following public outcry and media monitoring, the Lagos State Government hurriedly packaged the Bus Rapid Transfer driver for media interview, to give the impression that he was innocent of the crime.
“Some further revelations have now thrown up very serious questions that the Lagos State Government must answer, if it is not covering up this dastardly act of daylight murder.
“In a homicide matter of this magnitude, how can a prime suspect who was declared missing, be handed over to government by the security agencies? A video of his initial arrest showed that the driver confessed to having carnal knowledge of the deceased, in very remorseful fashion. He was dressed in shabby and disheveled attire, truly reflecting his fugitive status as of the time of his arrest.
“Who then packaged a crime suspect, to turn out clean shaven, dressed in specially designed Lagos State Government outfit and now well tutored to claim innocence to set up the cock and bull story of hijack?
“Why was Lagos State Government romancing a murder suspect? And why was he paraded on a selected media of TV Continental, over which Lagos State has influence through patronage?
“What is the business of Lagos State in the interrogation of a murder suspect? The Commissioner of Police had earlier addressed the press to the extent that the suspect had confessed to the crime before Lagos State emerged with the latter James Bond storyline.
“What interest is the government serving to cover up a clear case of blue murder? Has there been other cases of ritual killings in BRT buses to which the government has become accustomed? Why will a driver whose bus was hijacked and has thus become a victim himself then bolt away for days without reporting to his employers?
“Your employee that was trusted with human carriage took your citizen who boarded the bus innocently based on trust that it’s a government outfit, your driver allegedly saw the citizen abducted, your driver drove the bus to you, he did not report the incident but handed over the bus and disappeared and after public outcry he was apprehended and all you do is dress him up for press interview to lie to the public, after killing an innocent girl?
“What kind of government will do this wickedness and expect to earn the trust of its people? It will be a sad day for humanity in general for a responsible government to stoop so low to try to cover up a clear case of murder, just for public relations. It is unthinkable that Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu that we know would be a party to this nonsense story of hijack, which does not add up at all.
“It is clear that the Lagos State police command cannot be trusted to handle this case, given that it surrendered a murder suspect still under investigation to the Lagos State Government for media packaging.
“I therefore urge the federal government and the Inspector-General of Police to take over this investigation immediately, before the case is completely compromised.”