Andrew Nice Ominikoron, a former Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) driver in Lagos, has been sentenced to death for the 2022 murder of 22-year-old fashion designer Bamise Ayanwola. The court’s decision came after a detailed trial, which examined the events leading to her tragic death.
According to Channels TV, the Lagos High Court found Ominikoron guilty after considering circumstantial evidence, including the victim’s dying declaration. Justice Sherifat Sonaike stated that the prosecution successfully proved Ominikoron was the last person seen with Bamise before her death.
Bamise boarded the BRT bus driven by Ominikoron on February 26, 2022, at the Ajah axis of Lagos, but she never made it to her destination. Her body was found days later on Carter Bridge in Lagos Island, with reports indicating she was thrown from the bus while still alive.
The court also convicted Ominikoron for a previous sexual assault involving another female passenger, Nneka Maryjane Ozezulu. The prosecutor’s evidence, including a chilling voice note from Bamise before her death, pointed to the driver’s history of sexual misconduct on his BRT route.
Ominikoron’s sentence was delivered after a thorough review of the evidence, which included medical reports and victim testimonies. The court did not find evidence of sexual penetration in Bamise’s case but affirmed that the voice note showed her distress and lack of consent.
The case has shocked many, raising questions about safety on public transportation in Lagos. It also highlights the grave consequences of sexual assault and violence, leaving the community to reckon with the reality of such acts on public transit.
Article updated 4 weeks ago. Content is written and modified by multiple authors.
