Lagos Court Sentences BRT Driver to Death for Murder of Fashion Designer Bamise Ayanwola

 A Lagos State High Court sentenced Bus Rapid Transit driver Andrew Nice Ominikoron to death by hanging on May 2, 2025, for the murder of 22-year-old fashion designer Oluwabamise Ayanwola. The ruling, delivered after a nearly three-year trial, marked a significant moment in a case that sparked nationwide outrage over public transport safety. 

Ominikoron faced a five-count charge, including murder, attempted rape, rape, sexual assault, and conspiracy, stemming from the February 26, 2022, incident. Ayanwola boarded his bus at Chevron Bus Stop, Ajah, around 7 p.m., heading to Oshodi, but was found dead nine days later on Carter Bridge, Lagos Island, with signs of violence.

The prosecution relied on the “last seen” doctrine, proving Ominikoron was the last person with Ayanwola, supported by a chilling WhatsApp voice note she sent to a friend, admissible as a dying declaration, indicating fear for her life. Circumstantial evidence, including Ominikoron’s flight to Ogun State and failure to report the incident, reinforced his guilt. The court found him guilty of murder, sentencing him to death, and convicted him of raping Nneka Maryjane Ozezulu in November 2021, earning a life sentence, and sexually assaulting Dr. Victoria Anosike in December 2021, for which he received three years. The judge noted Ominikoron’s pattern of exploiting his role to target women, urging stricter driver vetting.

Medical reports showed no evidence of penetration in Ayanwola’s case, leading to a conviction for attempted rape rather than rape, with a 14-year sentence. The conspiracy charge was dismissed for lack of evidence. The trial, involving nine prosecution witnesses, highlighted systemic issues, as 30% of Lagos BRT users reported safety concerns in 2022. Ayanwola’s death led to a temporary BRT suspension and a $1 million security overhaul, including CCTV and panic buttons. The verdict, delivered after a two-and-a-half-hour judgment, underscored Nigeria’s 15% gender-based violence prevalence, fueling calls for transport reforms to protect the 5 million daily commuters in Lagos.