BREAKING: Court sentence BRT Driver to death by hanging over murder of Bamise Ayanwola

A Lagos High Court has sentenced Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) driver, Andrew Nice Ominikoron, to death by hanging for the brutal murder of 22-year-old fashion designer, Bamise Ayanwola.

Justice Sherifat Sonaike delivered the ruling on Friday, May 2, 2025, at the Tafawa Balewa Square division of the court, concluding a case that stirred widespread public anger and demands for safer public transportation in Nigeria.

Bamise was declared missing in February 2022 after boarding a BRT bus operated by Ominikoron. Her lifeless body was later discovered, a development that sparked protests and nationwide calls for justice.

During the trial, the prosecution presented convincing evidence directly linking the driver to the crime. The court ruled that the murder was premeditated and warranted the maximum sentence under the law.

The tragic incident drew significant attention from human rights groups, transport workers’ unions, and members of the public, as it highlighted the growing dangers women encounter while commuting alone in the country.