A Lagos High Court has sentenced Andrew Nice Ominikoron, a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) driver, to death by hanging for the gruesome murder of 22-year-old fashion designer, Bamise Ayanwola, News360 Nigeria reports.
Justice Sherifat Sonaike delivered the judgment on Friday, May 2, 2025, at the Tafawa Balewa Square division of the court, bringing a dramatic end to a case that sparked national outrage.
Bamise was declared missing in February 2022 after boarding a BRT bus operated by Ominikoron. Days later, her lifeless body was discovered, prompting public protests and renewed calls for improved safety measures on Nigeria’s public transportation systems.
Throughout the trial, the prosecution presented compelling evidence linking the driver to the heinous crime, while the court affirmed that the act was premeditated and deserving of the maximum penalty.
The case gripped the country for years, and generated attention from human rights advocates, transport unions, and the general public.
It became a tragic symbol of the vulnerabilities women face when commuting alone.
