Justice Sherifat Sonaike of the Lagos State High Court has delivered a final verdict in the case of Andrew Ominikoron, a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) driver accused of multiple crimes, including the murder of 22-year-old Oluwabamise Ayanwola. The judge sentenced Ominikoron to death by hanging after finding him guilty on several counts brought by the Lagos State Government.
The trial, held at the Tafawa Balewa Square annex, ended after a lengthy legal process involving serious charges of rape, murder, conspiracy, and sexual assault. Justice Sonaike noted in her judgment that the prosecution had convincingly proven the case beyond all reasonable doubt.
“For the death of Oluwabamise Ayanwola, you will be hanged by the neck until you are dead. May God have mercy upon you,” the judge said while announcing the sentence.
Ominikoron faced a five-count charge. These included the murder of Ayanwola, the rape of another woman, Maryland Ojiezelu, and the sexual assault of Dr. Anosike Victoria. Despite pleading not guilty, the weight of witness testimony and evidence eventually led to his conviction.
The incident that led to this tragic case happened on February 26, 2022. Ayanwola boarded a BRT bus at Chevron in the Ajah area of Lagos. It was later revealed in court that she was sexually assaulted and killed shortly after. Her disappearance sparked public outrage across the state, leading to widespread searches. Her lifeless body was found nine days later beneath the Carter Bridge on Lagos Island.
During the court proceedings, the Lagos State prosecution team called a total of 11 witnesses. Their testimonies helped paint a clear picture of what happened on that fateful day.
In his defence, Ominikoron denied any wrongdoing. He claimed that after picking up Ayanwola, he later stopped to collect three male passengers at Agungi. He alleged that one of them attacked him with a weapon and forced him to cooperate at gunpoint.
Despite this explanation, the court rejected his account, stating that it lacked credibility and did not align with the evidence presented by the prosecution and witnesses.
