BRT Driver Sentenced to D£ath for the R@pe and Murd£r of Bamise Ayanwola

In a verdict that reverberated across Lagos, Justice Serifat Sonaike of the Lagos High Court has sentenced Andrew Ominikoron, a former BRT (Bus Rapid Transit) driver, to death for the rape and brutal murder of 22-year-old fashion designer, Bamise Ayanwola.

Delivering the judgment today, May 2, at the Tafawa Balewa Square courthouse, Justice Sonaike ruled that the Lagos State Government had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt, establishing the guilt of the defendant in a crime that sparked public outrage and deep sorrow in 2022.

“For the death of Oluwabamise Ayanwola, you will be hanged by the neck until you are dead,” the judge declared solemnly. “May God have mercy upon you.”

The chilling case dates back to February 26, 2022, when Bamise boarded a BRT bus on the Lekki-Ajah Conservation expressway—only to vanish under mysterious circumstances. Days later, her lifeless body was discovered, triggering widespread demands for justice and safety for women using public transportation.

Ominikoron was arraigned on four counts, including rape, conspiracy, and murder charges tied not only to Bamise’s death but also involving other victims who had previously reported similar assaults.

The ruling represents a significant moment in the fight for justice and accountability in Nigeria’s public transport system a reminder that no crime, no matter how concealed, goes unpunished.