A Lagos State High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square, on Thursday, reserved judgment in the case against a Lagos State Bus Rapid Transit driver, Andrew Ominikoron, accused of raping and murdering a 22-year-old fashion designer, Oluwabamise Ayanwola, in 2022.

Justice Sherifat Sonaike fixed May 2, 2025, for the judgment after the prosecution and the defence adopted their final written addresses.

Defence counsel, Abayomi Omotubora, while adopting the final written address, argued that the prosecution failed to provide sufficient evidence to prove Ominikoron’s guilt.

He insisted that none of the testimonies from the nine prosecution witnesses directly linked the defendant’s actions to Ayanwola’s death.

Omotubora also dismissed a voice note reportedly sent by the deceased to her friend as inadmissible hearsay, stating that the prosecution failed to call the friend as a witness.

Challenging the prosecution’s reliance on the “last-seen” doctrine, the defence counsel stated that mere suspicion is not enough for a conviction without strong circumstantial evidence.

He also argued that the testimony of a prosecution witness, who alleged she was a previous rape victim of the defendant, required corroboration.

Meanwhile, the Director of Public Prosecutions, Dr Babajide Martins, in his final address, urged the court to convict the defendant and pronounce him guilty based on the testimonies of prosecution witnesses three, seven, and eight.

Martins stated that the corroboration is not required in rape cases under Nigerian law.

He pointed out that the defendant was last seen with Ayanwola and fled to Ososa, Sagamu, Ogun State, instead of reporting to the police an action he described as suspicious.

Martins added that Ominikoron was later arrested by the Department of State Services in 2022.

Regarding the voice note from the deceased, Martins cited Section 34 of the Nigerian Evidence Act, which allows the court to evaluate and assign probative value to dying declarations.

Ominikoron is facing four counts bordering on conspiracy, rape, and murder preferred against him, by the Lagos State government.

He was arraigned in March 2022, before the court over the rape and murder of his passenger, on February 26, 2022, at the Lekki-Ajah Expressway.

The prosecution told the court that Ominikoron conspired with others now at large to rape and murder his 22-year-old passenger.

The prosecution said the defendant had sexual intercourse with Ayanwole, without her consent, and murdered her, at about 7 p.m., between Lekki-Ajah Expressway and Carter Bridge, on February 26, 2022.

According to the prosecution the offences committed contravened Sections 411, 223, 260, and 165 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State 2015.

However, Ominnikoron pleaded not guilty, to the charges against him.

Despite possessing over 200 trillion cubic feet (Tcf) of proven natural gas reserves, Nigeria continues to struggle with underutilisation, infrastructure deficits, and investment roadblocks in its gas sector.

The chairman of the National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP), Prof. Mohammed M. Ibrahim, who disclosed this at the 6th West Africa LPG Expo on Tuesday in Lagos, highlighted critical challenges impeding Nigeria’s efforts to maximise its gas potential.

Ibrahim pointed to inadequate infrastructure, environmental concerns, and policy inconsistencies as major barriers to fully harnessing natural gas for domestic use and export.

Explaining further, the chairman said Nigeria’s gas fields, including Bonga, Amenam, and Utorogu, remain underdeveloped due to aging pipelines, processing constraints, and political instability, adding that, the lack of sufficient midstream and downstream infrastructure means many remote areas still lack access to gas, limiting its role in power generation, industrial production, and economic diversification.

“High capital costs for exploration, pipeline construction, and processing facilities have further slowed progress. Although the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 established a Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund to enhance financing, challenges persist due to inadequate in-country manufacturing capacity for critical machinery and equipment. Environmental degradation in the Niger Delta also remains a pressing issue. Gas flaring, oil spills, and soil contamination have sparked tensions with local communities, who often feel marginalized and inadequately compensated,” he added.

While government policies, including tax incentives and import duty waivers, aim to attract foreign investment, regulatory uncertainties and slow implementation continue to hinder investor confidence, even as Ibrahim stressed that Nigeria’s reliance on a single gas stream—Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)—poses risks to long-term energy security, advocating for a broader approach to gas utilisation.

To unlock Nigeria’s gas potential, the chairman called for increased public-private partnerships, local capacity-building, and strict adherence to regulatory frameworks. Expanding small-scale gas distribution centers and investing in local manufacturing of equipment could accelerate development and reduce costs, he affirmed.

“The National Gas Expansion Programme (NGEP) is positioned as a catalyst for these reforms, aiming to shift Nigeria from an oil-dependent economy to a diversified, gas-powered future. However, without decisive action to address infrastructure deficits, environmental concerns, and investment constraints, the country risks missing out on the full benefits of its vast gas reserves,” he stated.

The governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Olayemi Cardoso has said the bank’s foreign reserves grew significantly by $6bn in 2024 alone, attributing the growth to the policy reforms undertaken by his administration.

He said despite the obstacles faced during the year, the CBN implemented reforms that stabilised the nation’s macroeconomic environment and restored trust.

According to him, by engaging transparently with stakeholders – from local communities to international partners – the CBN under him bolstered Nigeria’s credibility at the global level while addressing the nation’s unique challenges.

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The efforts he now brags about include clearing the verified FX commitments, which amounted to $7 billion, discontinuing the Central Bank’s quasi-fiscal interventions, unifying the multiple exchange rate windows, etc.

He said the apex bank also introduced innovative policies and reforms across a range of areas: from the FX market and remittances to financial inclusion, diaspora engagement, compliance, private sector growth and more.

“We also prioritised increasing investor confidence, enhancing the efficiency of our financial markets, and driving innovation across sectors,” he said in a series of tweets on his X handle on Thursday.

“As a result of these policies and reforms, foreign capital imported into the country rose by over $6b in 2024 and Nigeria’s external reserves have risen to over $40 billion reflecting the growing confidence in our economy,” Cardoso stated.

This year, he said the CBN will build on that momentum, implementing sound monetary policies to safeguard our economic future, strengthening regulatory frameworks to inspire stability and confidence, and advancing initiatives that drive prosperity for all.

The past year, 2024, was a defining period of transformation marked by bold decisions, collective resilience, and measurable progress. Leading up to the appointment of the new leadership, Nigeria faced unprecedented challenges, including rapidly accelerating inflation, multiple exchange rate distortions, unsustainable deficit financing, and quasi-fiscal interventions that undermined market confidence.

Cardoso reaffirmed the Central Bank of Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to building a resilient and prosperous economy. “Our focus remains steadfast on three key pillars: price stability, financial system resilience and inclusive growth,” he said.

He adds that the CBN is committed to driving sustainable and inclusive growth to support Nigeria’s aspiration of achieving a $1 trillion economy.

“Our vision remains clear: a trusted and respected Central Bank promoting confidence in the Nigerian economy, contributing to a stable, inclusive, and competitive nation.”