Although the man convicted of murdering 22-year-old fashion designer Bamise Ayanwola has been sentenced to death, her family insists that justice remains incomplete.
On Friday, May 2, 2025, the Lagos State High Court sentenced Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) driver Andrew Ominikoron to death by hanging for Bamise’s murder—a case that shocked the nation when she disappeared and was later found dead in early 2022. Ominikoron was also convicted of multiple sexual offences and received additional prison terms.
Despite the landmark ruling, Bamise’s family says more must be done. Her elder sister, Onapemipo Damilola, urged the government and law enforcement agencies to identify and apprehend others who may have aided the crime.
“For us, justice goes beyond one conviction. What about the people who helped him? The accomplices must be found and brought to justice too,” Damilola said after the verdict.”
While she commended the judge for delivering a fair and thorough judgment, she emphasized that the fight for justice is far from over.
The family also disclosed that, since the incident, they have received no compensation or formal communication from the Lagos State Government. Bamise had boarded a BRT bus in the Ajah area of Lagos on February 26, 2022, and was declared missing soon after. Her body was discovered nine days later under the Carter Bridge. The case sparked nationwide outrage and reignited calls for improved passenger safety and greater accountability in public transportation.
As the legal chapter closes on Ominikoron, the Ayanwola family is urging authorities not to turn the page just yet—insisting that every individual involved must be held accountable.