Justice Sherifat Sonaike of the Lagos State High Court sitting at the Tafawa Balewa Square on Friday delivered a landmark judgment in the case of Andrew Nice Ominikoron, a former driver with the Lagos Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system.
The court found Ominikoron guilty of the gruesome murder of 22-year-old fashion designer, Oluwabamise Ayanwola, and sentenced him to death by hanging.
The tragic incident occurred in February 2022, when Bamise boarded a BRT bus driven by Ominikoron at Chevron Bus Stop in Lekki, Lagos, around 7 p.m., intending to travel to Oshodi. That was the last time she was seen alive. Her disappearance sparked widespread public outrage and a frantic search effort that lasted several days, ending when her lifeless body was discovered on Carter Bridge.
During the trial, the prosecution presented overwhelming evidence linking Ominikoron to the crime, including CCTV footage, phone records, and testimonies from witnesses. The court heard that Ominikoron had sexually assaulted Bamise before dumping her body, showing “a total disregard for human life and dignity.”
In her ruling, Justice Sonaike described the act as “barbaric, senseless, and deserving of the highest punishment under the law.” She stressed that the sentence should serve as a deterrent to others who may consider using their position of trust to exploit and harm innocent citizens.
Ominikoron was also convicted on multiple counts including rape and assault, although the death sentence was handed down specifically for the murder charge.
The case reignited national conversations about the safety of public transportation in Lagos and the need for stricter background checks and monitoring of drivers employed by government-run transit systems.
Family, friends, and rights activists who had campaigned for justice for Bamise expressed relief at the verdict, though many reiterated calls for deeper reforms in the transport sector to prevent a repeat of such tragedies.
