BRT Driver Sentenced to Death by Hanging for Murder of 22-Year-Old Fashion Designer, Bamise Ayanwola
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A Lagos High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square on Tuesday sentenced Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) driver, Andrew Ominikoron, to death by hanging for the murder of Oluwabamise Ayanwola, a 22-year-old fashion designer whose disappearance and death in February 2022 sparked nationwide outrage.
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Presiding over the case, Justice Serifat Sonaike delivered a verdict that lasted over two and a half hours, concluding that the Lagos State prosecution team had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.
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“For the death of Oluwabamise Ayanwola, you will be hanged by the neck until you are dead. May God have mercy upon you,” the judge declared solemnly.
Court Relied on Circumstantial and Forensic Evidence
Despite the absence of an eyewitness to the crime, the court relied on circumstantial evidence, pathology reports, and a dying voice note sent by the victim.
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Justice Sonaike noted that all evidence pointed to the convicted driver as the last person seen with Bamise before her death on February 26, 2022.
Conviction for Rape of Another Female Passenger
In addition to the murder conviction, the court also found Ominikoron guilty of raping a 29-year-old woman, Nneka Maryjane Ozezulu, on November 25, 2021.
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According to court records, Ominikoron had a pattern of sexual violence against female passengers, substantiated by extrajudicial statements and courtroom testimony.
A chilling voice note sent by Bamise shortly before her death confirmed she did not consent to sexual activity, further strengthening the prosecution’s case.
Attempted Rape Charge Upheld in Bamise’s Case
While the defendant was initially charged with rape in the case of Bamise, medical reports presented in court indicated no evidence of penetration or the presence of semen.
As such, the court acquitted Ominikoron of rape in that specific instance but convicted him of attempted rape, a charge that was proven beyond reasonable doubt by the Lagos State prosecution team.
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Conspiracy Charge Dismissed
The charge of conspiracy was dismissed by the court due to lack of sufficient evidence. Justice Sonaike held that the prosecution failed to establish collaboration between Ominikoron and any other individual in the commission of the crime.
Final Submissions: Call for Maximum Sentence
During the sentencing phase, Dr. Babajide Martins, the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) in Lagos, urged the court to apply the maximum penalty as a deterrent to future crimes.
In his plea for leniency, defence counsel Abayomi Omotubora asked the court to temper justice with mercy, but the judge declined, emphasizing the gravity of the offences and the irreplaceable loss suffered by the victim’s family.
Background: Bamise’s Disappearance and Death
Bamise Ayanwola had boarded a BRT bus operated by the Lagos State government on February 26, 2022. She later sent a series of distress messages and a voice note to friends, alerting them to suspicious behaviour by the driver.
Her lifeless body was discovered days later, triggering public protests and calls for improved safety on public transportation.
What you should know.
The sentencing of Andrew Ominikoron brings closure to one of Nigeria’s most emotionally charged criminal cases in recent history. The ruling underscores the need for better safeguards for women using public transport and serves as a strong legal precedent against gender-based violence and public service abuse.
Additional Reporting by Omajemite Don | TJ News Nigeria
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