The Lagos High Court, sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square, has convicted and sentenced Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) driver Andrew Ominikoron to death for the rape and murder of 22-year-old fashion designer Bamise Ayanwola.
In a judgment that spanned over two and a half hours, Justice Serifat Sonaike ruled that the Lagos State Government successfully proved its case beyond reasonable doubt against the defendant.
Delivering the verdict, the judge declared, “that for the death of Oluwabamise Ayanwola, you will be hanged by the neck until you are dead. May God have mercy upon you.”
Despite the absence of an eyewitness, the court relied on circumstantial evidence, a pathologist’s findings, and the dying declaration of the victim. All indicators pointed to the defendant as the last person seen with Bamise before her death on February 26, 2022.
In addition, the court convicted Ominikoron for the rape of a 29-year-old woman, Nneka Maryjane Ozezulu, which occurred on November 25, 2021. Justice Sonaike cited a disturbing pattern of predatory behavior, referencing extrajudicial statements from two female victims and the voice note Bamise recorded shortly before her death. The voice note, the court noted, was clear evidence that she did not give consent to sexual activity.
However, the court discharged Ominikoron on the charge of rape concerning Bamise due to the absence of medical proof of penetration or semen. Instead, the judge found him guilty of attempted rape, which the prosecution successfully proved.
The court also cleared the defendant of conspiracy, citing insufficient evidence to sustain that charge.
While the prosecution, represented by Dr. Babajide Martins, urged the court to impose the maximum sentence, defence counsel Abayomi Omotubora pleaded for mercy.
What you should know
Bamise Ayanwole was a young Nigerian woman who was abducted after boarding a BRT in Lagos and was found dead 9 days later.
The BRT driver, Andrew Ominikoron, has now been sentenced to death by hanging for the rape and murder of the 22-year-old fashion designer whose case captured national attention and sparked conversations about safety in public transportation.
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