There was a deep sense of relief and closure on Friday as the Lagos State High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square sentenced Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) driver, Andrew Ominikoron, to death by hanging for the gruesome murder of 22-year-old fashion designer, Bamise Ayanwola.
In a judgment that lasted over two and a half hours, Justice Serifat Sonaike ruled that the Lagos State Government, through the prosecution, had successfully proved its case beyond 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,” Justice Sonaike declared.
Though there was no eyewitness to the crime, the court relied on circumstantial evidence, the testimony of a pathologist, and the dying declaration of the victim—her voice notes—to convict the defendant.
The court also found Ominikoron guilty of the rape of 29-year-old Nneka Maryjane Ozezulu, an incident that occurred on November 25, 2021. The judgment revealed a disturbing pattern of sexual violence by the convicted driver, including attempted rape of Bamise and sexual assault of another victim, Victoria Anoike.
The Voice Notes That Spoke After Death
Justice Sonaike emphasized the significance of Bamise’s voice recordings, which she sent to friends while in the BRT bus driven by Ominikoron. The court noted that the voice notes, played during trial, revealed how the driver switched off the lights, failed to pick other passengers, and created an environment of fear and danger. These recordings were admitted as a dying declaration.
“The voice recordings were made in imminent fear of death and constitute a dying declaration, implicating the defendant,” the judge said.
The Circumstantial Evidence
Pathologist Prof. Sunday Soyemi testified that Bamise died from severe cranial-cerebral injuries consistent with blunt force trauma—likely the result of being thrown from a moving vehicle.
The court concluded that Ominikoron, who was the last person seen with Bamise and who fled Lagos to hide in Ogun State after the incident, was solely responsible for her death.
“Indeed, the defendant is the writer and author of the deceased’s death,” Justice Sonaike stated.
Serial Pattern of Abuse
The court described Ominikoron as a “paedophile and serial rapist” who exploited his position as a government-employed driver to prey on female passengers. The judge lamented that the abuse occurred within just a few months, suggesting there may be other victims yet to come forward.
“In the case of Bamise, though penetration was not proven, the evidence of attempted rape and her subsequent death was established,” the court held.
Convictions and Acquittals
Ominikoron was convicted on four out of five counts: murder, attempted rape, rape, and sexual assault. He was, however, acquitted of the charge of conspiracy due to lack of evidence linking him to other potential accomplices.
Nonetheless, the family of Bamise is calling on the Lagos State Government to investigate and apprehend anyone who may have conspired with the convict.
Bamise’s elder brother, Abegunde Pelumi, who spoke to journalists after the verdict, urged authorities to ensure that justice is complete and comprehensive.
