BAMISE: FAMILY ISSUES NEW DEMAND FOLLOWING COURT ORDER FOR BRT DRIVER'S EXECUTION

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‎The family of Oluwabamise Ayanwola, who was murdered by BRT driver Andrew Ominikoron, has urged the government to arrest all accomplices connected to her death.

‎On Friday, Justice Sherifat Sonaike of the Lagos State High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square found Ominikoron guilty and sentenced him to death by hanging for Ayanwola’s murder.

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‎Ayanwola went missing on February 26, 2022, after boarding Ominikoron’s BRT bus in the Ajah area of Lagos, sparking widespread outrage and a city-wide search.

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‎Her body was found nine days later on Carter Bridge, Lagos Island.

‎Ominikoron was later arrested and charged by the Lagos State Government with five counts, including conspiracy, rape, murder, and sexual assault.

‎The prosecution called 11 witnesses who testified against him during the trial.

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‎Ominikoron, who opened his defence on October 17, 2024, denied raping or killing Ayanwola.

‎However, Justice Sonaike ruled that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt and found him guilty of murder, rape, attempted rape, and sexual assault.

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‎The court also found him guilty of raping Nneka Udezulu and sexually assaulting Dr. Victoria Anosike, both of whom were passengers on his bus on separate occasions.

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‎Sonaike said, “On count one which is offence of raping Nneka Udezulu, Ominikoron, is sentenced to life imprisonment. For count three, attempted rape of Anyawola, you are sentenced to 14 years imprisonment. For count five, offence of sexual assault on Dr Victoria Anosike, you are sentenced to three years imprisonment.

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‎”For count four which is the offence of murder of Oluwabamise Ayanwola. Having been found guilty of murder, a capital offence pursuant to Section 301 of the Administrative of Criminal Justice Law, the defendant is hereby sentenced to death.

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‎“You will be hanged by the neck until you are dead. May God have mercy on your soul,” she held.

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‎She said the voice recording of the deceased which she sent to her friend while inside the defendant’s bus, would be admitted as a dying declaration.

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‎The judge said that the deceased’s voice recording was made when she felt she was in imminent danger due to the behaviour of the defendant.

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‎She said the message, made while the victim sensed danger, revealed the defendant’s pattern of targeting vulnerable female passengers.

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‎“All the circumstantial evidence, including the defendant’s attempt to flee to a remote village and his failure to report the incident, demonstrates a guilty mind,” the judge said.

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‎Justice Sonaike described Ominikoron as a serial rapist, stating that his actions showed a clear pattern of luring unsuspecting passengers to isolated locations and sexually assaulting them.

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‎“I find the ingredient of murder established beyond all reasonable doubt,” Sonaike held.

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‎The judge said the convict lied throughout his defence.

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‎Sonaike said, “The fact that the defendant committed these offences within a three-month interval shows that maybe there are more victims who, because of shame, failed to come forward.

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‎“The defendant used his employment to rape unsuspecting passengers. This is an unforgivable crime.

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‎“This case is an eye opener. There is a need for the government to overhaul the recruitment standard so that parents will be assured when their young girl boards a vehicle”.

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‎Reacting to the judgement, the deceased’s elder sister, Onapemipo Damilola, called for the arrest of all those who conspired with the driver in her sister’s murder.

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‎Damilola noted, “The accomplices in the matter should be provided.”

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‎Praising the judge, she noted that Justice Sonaike delivered the judgment without bias, describing it as fair and commendable.

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‎The sister said the judge, being a mother herself, understood and shared in their pain.

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‎She noted, “The judgment was not biased. The judgment was accurate. We thank her so much. She deserves to be praised.”

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‎When asked about possible compensation from the Lagos State Government, Damilola responded that no such offer had been made.

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‎Damilola said, “They never talked about any compensation.”