The Lagos State High Court sitting at Tafawa Balewa Square annexe has sentenced Bus Rapid Transport driver Andrew Ominikoron to death by hanging for killing fashion designer Bamise Ayanwola.

In the judgment, which lasted almost three hours on Friday, Presiding Judge Sherifat Sonaike ruled that the prosecution, which is the state government, proved its case beyond a reasonable doubt against the defendant.

Ms Sonaike ruled that “For the death of Oluwabamise Ayanwola, you will be hanged by the neck until you are dead. May God have mercy upon you.”

The court and the prosecution relied on the doctrine of “last seen”, and the 22-year-old victim’s sent messages before her demise to arrive at the verdict against Mr Ominikoron.

The convict faced a five-count charge of conspiracy to commit felony, rape, murder, and sexual assault, although he had pleaded not guilty to all the charges.

The victim, who went missing on February 26, 2022, after she boarded a BRT bus driven by Mr Ominikoron in Ajah, was found lifeless on Carter Bridge, Lagos Island, nine days later.