Andrew Nice Ominikoron and the late Bamise Ayanwole

The Lagos State Ministry of Justice has drawn the attention of the public that the trial of Andrew Nice Ominikoron, the perpetrator of the attempted rape and murder of Bamise Ayanwole in BRT Bus has been concluded and in the Judgment delivered on Friday, 2nd of May 2025, the Court held that the Prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

As contained in a statement signed by Lawal Pedro, SAN, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, the presiding Judge His Lordship Honourable Justice Sonaike found the Defendant guilty of the offences charged and sentenced him to death by hanging for the Murder of Bamise Ayanwole, 14 years imprisonment for the attempted rape of Bamise Ayanwole, life imprisonment for the Rape of Mary Jane Nwazulu and 3 years imprisonment for the Sexual Assault on Dr. Victoria Anosike.

The Defendant was arraigned on the 22nd of March 2022 on a five count charge of Rape, Conspiracy to commit Rape, Murder and Sexual Assault contrary to Sections 260, 411, 233, 223, & 263 of the Criminal Law of Lagos state. The trial commenced on the 9th of May 2022. The Prosecution called 9 witnesses and closed its case on the 9th of November 2023. The Defendant opened his case and testified for himself.

The Court in arriving at its judgment, considered the case of the prosecution and held that although no eyewitness directly saw Ominikoron commit the acts, circumstantial evidence and the victim’s dying declaration pointed clearly to his guilt. Further more the defendant’s refusal to report the matter to his office and for running away to a remote village before his arrest, showed a guilty mind which assisted the court in arriving at its conclusion.

The State government has put in place measures to prevent the likes of the Defendant who may want to use his position as a government-employed driver to create an environment to lure unsuspecting young female passengers and have non-consensual sexual intercourse with them.

As observed by the judge the fact that the defendant committed these offences within three three-month interval shows that there may be more victims who, because of shame, failed to come forward. The Lagos State Domestic and Sexual Violence Agency established by the State government, is open to such victims and the protection of their identity from members of the public is guaranteed during the prosecution of the perpetrators.