Bamise for burial 16 December, family still waiting for justice
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
Oluwabamise Ayanwola will be buried on 16 December, the family has announced, 10 months after she was raped and murdered by a BRT driver in the Lekki axis of Lagos on 26 February, which led to public outcry and court trial of the suspect.
Bamise’s elder brother, Pelumi Abegunde, made the announcement on Wednesday at her 22nd post humous birthday ceremony at the family house in Oko-Oba, Agege. He said she will be buried in Lagos.
The ceremony was attended by family, friends, and members of the Lagos chapter of the Committee for the Defence of Human Rights (CDHR), led by Kehinde Adeoye, who urged the state government to ensure the prosecution of the suspect.
Also present was BRT Operations Manager Kayode Aluko, who represented the Lagos State Bus Services (LSBS), according to Vanguard reporting.
Bamise went missing after boarding a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) 26 February at Chevron, Lekki enroute Oshodi at about 7pm.
Her decomposing body was found on Ebute-Ero/Carter Bridge, Lagos Island on 7 March.
The body has since been lying at Mainland Hospital mortuary.
She was going to visit her elder brother whose wife was about to put to bed when she met her untimely death.
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Arrest, prosecution of suspect
The bus driver, Andrew Nice Ominikoron, is facing a five-count charge at a Lagos High Court in Tafawa Balewa Square (TBS).
Bamise worked as a fashion designer on Chevron Estate in Ajah, Lagos and spent the weekends in Ota, Ogun State, with her sibling.
Omininikoron, 48, was arrested at his hiding place in Ogun by Department of State Services (DSS) personnel.
He is charged with conspiracy, murder, and two counts of rape, among others; but his accomplices are yet to be found.
Abegunde explained the post humous birthday ceremony was to honour Bamise who was murdered in her prime.
He implored the state government to fish out Oninikoron’s accomplices.
“We the family of Ayanwola Abegunde is here to grace the occasion of the post humous birthday and memorial service of our daughter Oluwabamise Oluwatoyosi Ayanwola who was murdered in cold blood inside Lagos State Bus Rapid Transit on the 26th of February, 2022,” he said.
