A Lagos High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square has sentenced a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) driver, Andrew Ominikoron, to death by hanging for the brutal murder of 22-year-old Oluwabamise Ayanwola, a fashion designer who boarded his bus in February 2022.
Delivering judgment on Friday, Justice Sherifat Sonaike found Ominikoron guilty of the murder of Ayanwola, as well as rape and sexual assault involving two other victims—Nneka Udezulu and Dr. Victoria Anosike.
The judge held that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt, describing Ominikoron as a “serial predator” who took advantage of his position as a commercial bus driver to prey on unsuspecting female passengers.
“In count one, the rape of Nneka Udezulu, the defendant is sentenced to life imprisonment,” Justice Sonaike ruled.
“On count three, attempted rape of the deceased, the defendant is sentenced to 14 years’ imprisonment. For the sexual assault on Dr. Anosike, he is sentenced to three years in prison.
“But for count four, the murder of Oluwabamise Ayanwola, the sentence is death. You shall be hanged by the neck until you are dead. May God have mercy on your soul.”
Ayanwola had boarded the BRT bus on February 26, 2022, heading to her destination along the Lekki-Ajah corridor, but she never made it. Her mutilated corpse was later found by authorities.
A chilling voice note she sent to a friend during the ride, expressing fear over the driver’s suspicious conduct, was admitted in court as a dying declaration.
Justice Sonaike said Ominikoron’s actions—fleeing after the incident, failing to report it, and lying under oath—exposed a “guilty mind.” She added that the timeline of the attacks, all committed within a span of three months, suggested there may be other unreported victims.
“This case is an eye-opener,” the judge remarked. “There is an urgent need for a thorough overhaul of public transport personnel recruitment, to ensure the safety of commuters, especially women.”
The Lagos State Government had arraigned Ominikoron on a five-count charge of conspiracy, rape, attempted rape, sexual assault, and murder. The prosecution called nine witnesses, while Ominikoron testified as the sole defence witness, denying all charges.
The offences, committed in various parts of Lagos including the Lekki-Ajah Expressway and the Ikorodu-Mile 12 corridor, contravened Sections 411, 223, 260, and 165 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015.
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