The family of Oluwabamise Ayanwola, the young woman murdered by a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) driver, Andrew Ominikoron, has demanded the arrest of all those who may have aided or abetted in the crime.
This renewed call came shortly after Justice Sherifat Sonaike of the Lagos State High Court, sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square, sentenced Ominikoron to death by hanging on Friday for the murder of Ayanwola.
Bamise, as she was fondly called, went missing on February 26, 2022, after boarding Ominikoron’s BRT bus in the Ajah area of Lagos. Her disappearance triggered widespread outrage and a city-wide search. Nine days later, her body was discovered under Carter Bridge, Lagos Island.
Following his arrest, Ominikoron was arraigned on five counts, including conspiracy, rape, murder, and sexual assault. During the trial, 11 prosecution witnesses testified against him. Ominikoron denied the charges when he opened his defence in October 2024.
However, Justice Sonaike ruled that the prosecution had successfully proven its case beyond a reasonable doubt. She convicted Ominikoron of murder, rape, attempted rape, and sexual assault.
Delivering judgment, the judge said:
- For the rape of Nneka Udezulu, Ominikoron was sentenced to life imprisonment.
- For the attempted rape of Ayanwola, he received 14 years.
- For the sexual assault of Dr Victoria Anosike, three years imprisonment.
- And for the murder of Oluwabamise Ayanwola, the court imposed the death penalty by hanging.
“You will be hanged by the neck until you are dead. May God have mercy on your soul,” the judge declared.
Justice Sonaike admitted as evidence a voice note Bamise had sent to a friend from inside the BRT, noting it qualified as a “dying declaration.” The recording captured her fear and sense of danger, which the judge said revealed the driver’s predatory behavior.
“All circumstantial evidence — including the convict’s attempted escape to a remote village and his failure to report the incident — clearly pointed to a guilty mind,” Sonaike stated.
Describing Ominikoron as a serial rapist, the judge highlighted a pattern of using his position to lure and assault vulnerable female passengers. She condemned the abuse of trust and called for a comprehensive review of public transport recruitment practices.
“This is an unforgivable crime. The government must overhaul its recruitment processes so that families can feel safe when their loved ones use public transport,” she added.
Family Reacts: ‘Arrest the Accomplices’
Reacting to the verdict, Bamise’s sister, Onapemipo Damilola, expressed gratitude to the court but insisted that justice remains incomplete until all accomplices involved in her sister’s murder are apprehended.
“The others who conspired with the driver must be brought to justice,” she said.
Damilola praised the judgment as fair and unbiased, commending Justice Sonaike’s thorough handling of the case.
“She judged the matter like a mother who understands our pain. Her judgment was clear and commendable.”
Asked whether the Lagos State Government had offered any form of compensation to the grieving family, Damilola replied, “They have not discussed any compensation with us.”
