Lagos BRT Driver Sentenced to Death for Bamise Ayanwola’s

Justice Sherifat Sonaike of the Lagos State High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square has sentenced BRT driver, Andrew Nice Ominikoron, to death by hanging for the murder of 22-year-old Oluwabamise Ayanwola.

Ominikoron was convicted on multiple counts stemming from a five-count amended charge, which included rape, conspiracy, murder, and attempted sexual assault. The court found him guilty on four counts, acquitting him only on the charge of conspiracy to commit felony.

In her ruling, Justice Sonaike stated that the evidence clearly established that Ominikoron caused Ayanwola’s death, emphasizing that he was the last person seen with her before her disappearance on February 26, 2022.

The judge said the deceased died from severe cerebral injury and blunt force trauma, she reiterate that by law, the person last seen with a deceased bears the responsibility for their death unless a credible explanation is given by the defendant.

Ominikoron admitted to being alone with Ayanwola on the bus, failed to assist her, and fled to another state without reporting the incident which further reinforced his guilt.

Although, the court ruled that the prosecution did not prove beyond reasonable doubt that Ayanwola was raped, it concluded that her death likely occurred while resisting an attempted sexual assault. The judge also noted Ominikoron’s consistent pattern of targeting female passengers, often switching off bus lights and deviating from known routes.

The prosecution called nine witnesses, including Nneka Maryjane, BRT fleet operations manager Kayode Aluko, ASP Isibor Moses, the Lagos State social worker Segun Agbe and pathologist Prof. Sunday Shoyemi, who confirmed that Ayanwola died from blunt force trauma to the head.

Justice Sonaike described Ominikoron as a “serial predator” who abused his position as a government bus driver, calling for urgent reform in the recruitment and monitoring of public transport operators.

Defence counsel Abayomi Omotubora has indicated that the verdict will be appealed.

#Jimbamedia