A Lagos High Court sitting in Ebute-Meta has sentenced Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) driver, Andrew Nice Ominikoron, to death by hanging for the rape and murder of 22-year-old fashion designer, Bamise Ayanwola.
Justice Sherifat Sonaike delivered the judgment on Friday, May 2, 2025, bringing to a close a case that sparked national outrage after Bamise was declared missing in February 2022.
Bamise had boarded a BRT bus operated by Ominikoron before she was declared missing. Her lifeless body was discovered nine days later, triggering public protests and demands for justice.
Following her disappearance, Ominikoron fled to Ogun State, where he was tracked down and arrested by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS), then handed over to the police.
Despite pleading not guilty, the court found Ominikoron guilty on multiple charges, including conspiracy, rape, and murder.
Justice Sonaike ruled that the evidence presented during the trial overwhelmingly established the driver’s culpability in the brutal crime.
The sentencing marks a significant moment in Nigeria’s fight against gender-based violence and abuse of public trust by transport workers.
