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BRT driver arrested for murder also attempted raping me inside bus — Medical Doctor

Published

3 years ago

March 13, 2022

Andrew Nice Omininikoron

A Medical Doctor, Dr. Onyinyechi Victoria Anoke, has narrated how she escaped being raped by the driver of a Bus Rapid Transport bus, Andrew Nice Omininikoron, on December 29, 2021.

She narrated her ordeal in the hands of Andrew Nice Omininikoron on her Facebook page, making her the second person.

The first person, who spoke on condition of anonymity with The PUNCH, said the embattled driver had his way with her.

She said the driver transferred N3,000 to her after the act for the purchase of pain reliever.

Omininikoron was arrested by the Department of State Services and handed over to the Lagos State Police Command for the alleged murder of a 21-year-old fashion designer, Oluwabamise Ayanwole.

He had picked Ayanwole on February 26, 2022 around Chevron Bus Stop in Lekki area of Lagos State.

Narrating her order on Facebook, Adoke, as quoted by The Nation, said it all happened on December 29, 2021 when she decided to visit her friend, a nurse, Amaka Modester, whose residence was not too far from Ketu, where she (Anoke) lived.

She said since it was getting late, her friend suggested that she should sleep over in her house, but since she did not plan for that and had not told her parents that she would not be coming back, she insisted on going home.

She wrote: “I had earlier tried Uber but most of the drivers were a bit far from my location and would request to cancel on that basis, hence we decided not to waste further time, and use bus instead.

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“The junction (where she wanted to board a bus) just overlooked the BRT Bus Stop. And as we stood bidding our final goodbyes, this particular driver stopped in front of us, asking if we were ‘going’.

“There was no other person in the bus and my instinct got activated and was like ‘don’t enter’. But my friend, as if echoing my thoughts, was like ‘thank God it’s BRT, there won’t be unnecessary delays and you’d get home on time’.

“It was just 8pm and within 15-20mins, all things being equal, I should be at mine. It all happened in a flash and I was seated at one of the front row seats, opposite the driver’s end…

“My thoughts were that he would just move properly into the bus stop and pick the other passengers waiting at the BRT stand. But instead, he bypassed the BRT lane and continued on the normal bus lane till the next intersection.

“By this time, my ‘antenna’ was up and everything within me screamed danger. I made a quick scan of the bus and there was no route of escape. Both doors were locked from the control as well as the windows.”

Anoke said at this point, Omininikoron had started making advances to her, telling her that he liked her and asking whether she could follow him home.

She said: “Baba (Omininikoron) started enquiring about my personal details: my name, what I do, if I can just follow him home that night and all sorts of nonsense.

“Having assessed my situation, my best bet at safety or anything that seemed like it was to indulge him and play along.

“I told him I was a student who came home for break, came to visit my friend and on my way back to my house; that my parents were already expecting me.

“I moved on to hijack the conversation, and acted like I was interested in his miserable life. All this was to buy me time to think of how best to get out of that bus.

“If I panicked, which I did throughout, I didn’t show it. Rather, I acted relaxed and like it was just a regular bus trip even though it was established in me already that I was in grave danger.

“He talked about spending the night with him and all the nonsense, but I politely deflected with the excuse that I had already stayed out much later than agreed and my parents were calling me, but that I could see him the next day or even spend the entire weekend (weekend I would already be in Asaba).

“It was actually not funny. From the conversation, he said his name was Andrew, (that) he didn’t usually ply that route, was more on the Island, lived in Shagamu, and would most likely not see me again; that I was scamming him.

“By this time, he had gotten to the next bus stop, still refusing to pick anybody. Instead, he moved ahead a bit, parked and put out the bus lights.

“There was stark darkness within, though the streetlights illuminated the surroundings. So I could see people but no one could see me. How would I signal to these passersby for help?

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“Everywhere was still tightly locked in all of this, so all conversations were contained within. He said we should move to the back row and talk better.

“My body language kept speaking unease and I kept looking at my wrist watch, signaling to him that I was late and we could meet earlier the next day, anywhere he wanted, and talk as long as he wanted.

“By this time, he had already collected my phone numbers. He ensured to collect the two lines he saw on my phone and dialed both and saw them ring to ensure that I was not giving him wrong numbers.

“As earlier said, my best bet at safety was to go with the flow while strategising for better options, and so I did.

“He dragged me by the hands and, as usual, I didn’t struggle but followed him to the back row. By now it was established in my head that this is most likely going to end as an attempted but failed rape case.

“I didn’t even think for a second that it was going to be successful. My fight response was on a high and I racked my brain for all the possible things I could do to temporarily subdue him and hit the bus till people from outside would notice me.

“I’d had three such previous attempts in younger years and God somehow always helped me escape untouched from those locked rooms, so he wouldn’t allow this infidel do this now.

“I would rather die than let it happen (though the picture in my head was more of me harming him with his weapon if he brought out any).

“I had a feeling he might make to stab me and I kept looking out for any attempts of him bringing out a pocket knife and how I was going to struggle for and collect it.

“As he made to run his hands on my body indiscriminately, I subtly pushed him away, curled into myself and used my elbow as a wedge.

“He flared up, that if I said I liked him just like he liked me, why was I resisting? I told him I was just anxious to get home and that’s why; not because I didn’t like him.

“He just kept acting weird and looking outside to one direction most of this time. I guess he was looking out for someone or something.

“After a while, he got frustrated and moved back to the driver’s seat and continued the journey.

“Just as he moved, my mom’s call came in and I ensured to put it on speaker. I told her which bus stop we just left and that I would be home in about five minutes.

“He drove in silence for the rest of the trip until we got to my bus stop and he opened the door and decided to pick passengers.

“I ran out of the bus and he even told me to be careful as I was going.”

EAGLE

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CBN fines bank found hoarding cash N150m

Published

2 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Trends Admin

CBN fines bank found hoarding cash N150m

The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has imposed a N150 million fine on a commercial bank for failing to dispense cash through its Automated Teller Machines (ATMs).

This action follows an unannounced inspection by the apex bank, which uncovered deliberate cash hoarding and ATM manipulation by the erring bank.

Sources within the CBN revealed that the sanctioned bank was caught disabling its ATMs, thereby denying customers access to their funds while prioritizing cash disbursements to select VIP clients.

A staff member of the CBN stressed that the apex bank would not tolerate such practices.

“The Bank will not spare any Deposit Money Bank (DMB) caught in the act of hoarding cash or found favoring VIP customers over other customers,” the official stated.

To this end, the CBN has intensified spot checks on banks nationwide, exposing various illicit cash-handling practices by some unscrupulous financial institutions.

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For now, the CBN is imposing financial penalties on defaulting banks. However, according to the official, the next phase of enforcement will include publicly naming and shaming offending banks and prosecuting implicated bank officials.

“This fine is just the beginning. The CBN is determined to hold banks accountable for any actions that undermine public trust and the integrity of the banking system,” the official added.

Despite the ongoing challenges, the CBN has reiterated its commitment to promoting cashless banking in the country.

Another senior official disclosed that the apex bank’s management is intensifying efforts to encourage the use of electronic channels for transactions.

“The frustration faced by account holders is undermining our push for a cashless economy. We are doubling down on initiatives to restore public confidence in electronic banking solutions,” the official said.

CBN fines bank found hoarding cash N150m

metro

Three days to Christmas, food prices, transport fares hit the roof

Published

3 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Trends Admin

Three days to Christmas, food prices, transport fares hit the roof

According to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights ,UDHR, Article 25(1), everyone has the right to standard of living adequate for their health and well-being, which includes access to food, clothing, and housing.

Similarly, the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights ,ICESCR, Article 11 emphasizes the right to an adequate standard of living, including sufficient food.

Furthermore, the Covenant recognizes the fundamental right to be free from hunger and advocates for measures both individual and international to eliminate hunger.

It is widely acknowledged that inadequate food availability can lead to health issues, as food is as essential to health as air is to breathing.

The situation is exacerbated by the rising costs of healthcare, which are increasingly out of reach for many due to ongoing inflation.

Difficult situations

In Nigeria, harsh economic conditions are forcing households into difficult situations, with many going to bed hungry due to skyrocketing food prices. With Christmas just three days away, our correspondents visited local food markets in Lagos and Abuja to see how citizens are coping with the rising cost of goods and services.

In the locations, buyers and sellers expressed their frustrations over the increasing prices of food items.

At Agric Market in Ikorodu, Mummy Somto, lamented that she had never witnessed such high prices in her lifetime.

She noted that a chicken that cost N15,000 last year now sells for N35,000, with only older layers available for N15,000.

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“What will that do for my family? We have never seen it like this in Nigeria. I hope this hope is the hope,” she said.

At Mile 12 International Market, trucks filled with perishable goods such as tomatoes, peppers, onions, cucumbers, potatoes, carrots, cabbages, and other vegetables were lined up for unloading while eager buyers waited nearby.

When asked about the high prices despite the abundance of food, truck owner Alhaji Shehu, explained that the situation arose from expenses related to diesel, farm security, police and military checkpoints before reaching Lagos.

He mentioned spending between N500,000 and N800,000 per truck, which inevitably raises prices.
“This is our business, and we are not pleased with the high costs either. If I sell my goods, I still need to buy what I don’t sell. It’s suffocating us. I also commend the buyers,” Shehu added.

Bags of rice

Mrs. Bukky Osagie, a rice vendor at Mike 12, shared her concerns about escalating prices: “Last December, a bag of rice was between N65,000 and N70,000. Today, it’s from N95,000 depending on the brand. Traders are exhausted. People are buying half bags because they can’t afford full ones. They also need to buy additional items. How do people survive this trend? This has to stop if the government truly cares for its citizens.”

At Daleko Market, Mrs. Hannah, was seen pricing vegetable oil when she declared, “Whether the devil likes it or not, we will celebrate with our families and share love during this season. We will just have to adjust our spending according to our means.”

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As of the time of filing this report, a 25-liter container of vegetable oil was selling for between N86,000 and N95,000 depending on the brand.

Garri was priced at N56,000, while Ijebu Gaari was N58,000.

A carton of satchel tomatoes ranged from N8,800 to N9,200 while a pack of spaghetti cost N23,000.
70 grams of noodles were priced between N9,800 and N10,500. A roll of curry or thyme sold for N550 each, while small bulbs of onion reached as high as N200, making them almost unaffordable for many.

Christmas cheer

In Abuja, soaring food prices and steep transportation costs are casting a shadow over Christmas celebrations for many families.

The cost of essential holiday items, such as poultry, has surged, with chickens priced between ¦ 15,000 and ¦ 25,000, and turkeys reaching up to ¦ 130,000 in some markets.

Sunday Vanguard learned that rising feed prices, transportation costs, and supply chain disruptions are driving these increases.

Additionally, a 50-kg bag of rice now costs between ¦ 94,000 and ¦ 125,000, a significant leap from previous months.

Transportation fares have also skyrocketed, with transport fare from Abuja to major cities such as Lagos, Port Harcourt, and Enugu increasing from 15 percent to 35 percent in the past month.

For instance, a trip from Abuja to Lagos by road, which previously cost ¦ 28,000–¦ 35,000, now ranges between ¦ 46,500 and ¦ 60,000.

Three days to Christmas, food prices, transport fares hit the roof

VANGUARD

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Three Ogun varsity students die in auto crash

Published

3 hours ago

December 22, 2024

Trends Admin

Ogun State Command Police Public Relations Officer, SP Omolola Odutola

Three Ogun varsity students die in auto crash

The Police Command in Ogun State has confirmed the death of three university students in a single-vehicle accident on the Ilisan-Ago-Iwoye Road.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the command’s spokesperson, SP Omolola Odutola, revealed that the victims were suspected to be students of Olabisi Onabanjo University (OOU), Ago-Iwoye.

The incident, which occurred around 3:30 p.m. on Friday, involved an Opel car with registration number AAA-126 HE. The vehicle was reportedly driven by Adekunle Adebiyi, a resident of 5 Sunmibare Street, Awa Ijebu.

“The accident was caused by overspeeding, leading to the driver losing control and the vehicle flipping into the bush,” Odutola explained.

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She further disclosed that one male passenger, whose identity is yet to be confirmed but is believed to be an OOU student, died on the spot. His body was taken to the mortuary at General Hospital, Ijebu Ode.

“Two female students from Olabisi Onabanjo University — Dada Oluwanifesimi, 18, and Miracle Daniel, 19 — were rushed to Love and Care Hospital but sadly passed away while receiving treatment,” she added.

The vehicle involved in the crash has been recovered and is now in police custody.

Odutola assured the public that further updates on the tragic incident would be provided and advised motorists to adhere to traffic regulations, particularly during the festive season.