A Lagos 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 fashion designer, Bamise Ayanwola. The ruling was delivered by Justice Sherifat Sonaike on Friday, May 2, 2025, marking the end of a harrowing case that captured national outrage and demanded justice for over two years.
Bamise’s killing sent shockwaves across the country when she went missing after boarding a BRT bus operated by Ominikoron in February 2022. She had boarded the bus at Chevron Bus Stop on the Lekki-Ajah axis, but never made it to her destination. Days later, her mutilated body was discovered—sparking protests and fierce demands for accountability.
During the trial, prosecutors presented forensic evidence, call logs, and testimonies that linked Ominikoron directly to the crime. Witnesses testified to Bamise’s last known communication and the suspicious circumstances surrounding her disappearance. The judge ruled that the evidence proved beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant was guilty of murder.
The court described Ominikoron’s actions as “premeditated, callous, and a betrayal of public trust.” Justice Sonaike stated that public transportation should not be a death trap and emphasized that the sentence serves not only justice to the victim’s family but as a warning to others who may endanger the lives of innocent commuters.
Throughout the trial, Bamise’s family remained vocal in their quest for justice, showing up at every court appearance and galvanizing support from rights groups. Her elder sister, visibly shaken but relieved, said after the judgment: “This judgment won’t bring Bamise back, but it restores our faith that justice still exists in Nigeria.”
The verdict has reignited calls for tighter security protocols within Nigeria’s public transportation systems. Civil society organizations have urged Lagos State authorities to install surveillance systems in all BRT buses and enforce background checks on drivers to avoid another tragedy.
Social media has erupted with mixed emotions—grief, relief, and calls for reforms. The hashtag #JusticeForBamise is trending again as Nigerians remember the young woman whose life was brutally cut short on what should have been a safe journey home.
