Drugged bus driver Asolo-Ogugua jailed for killing 9-year-old Ada in London horror crash

A London bus driver who killed a nine-year-old girl after falling asleep at the wheel while under the influence of cannabis has been sentenced to four years in prison.

Martin Asolo-Ogugua, 23, of Banfield Road, Southwark, was sentenced on Monday, 9 June at Woolwich Crown Court after pleading guilty to causing death by dangerous driving and driving while unfit through drugs.

The tragic incident occurred on Saturday, 3 August 2024, when Asolo-Ogugua, who had taken cannabis the night before, lost control of his vehicle, veering across the road and mounting the opposite pavement in Bexleyheath.

At that moment, Ada Bicakci, a British-Turkish schoolgirl, was riding her bicycle with her family along Watling Street, near the junction with Halcot Avenue.

While her family managed to escape with minor injuries, Ada was struck by the bus and sustained catastrophic injuries.

She was rushed to hospital, but despite the efforts of medical staff, she passed away two days later on Monday, 5 August.

An on-site drug test confirmed Asolo-Ogugua had cannabis in his system. He was arrested at the scene, and an investigation by detectives from the Metropolitan Police Roads and Transport team gathered CCTV and witness evidence, tracing the bus’s journey from its depot.

Footage revealed the moment Asolo-Ogugua appeared to lose consciousness behind the wheel, allowing the vehicle to drift uncontrollably into the path of the family.

He was formally charged in February 2025 and pleaded guilty in April. In addition to his prison sentence, he was disqualified from driving for seven years.

Detective Sergeant Sam Miles, who led the investigation, described Ada’s death as “a tragedy that could have been avoided.”

He added, “Asolo-Ogugua will live the rest of his life with the consequences of his reckless choices. His actions have cost a child her life and devastated an entire family.”

Ada’s father, Bora Bicakci, delivered an emotional statement in court, saying: “This tragedy happened on my watch—a father’s ultimate failure. My world has been turned upside down… We will honour Ada’s name with acts of magnitude. Her presence and passing will leave a mark in this country, and we will fight to make drug driving a part of its history.”

Senior Crown Prosecutor Miranda Jollie called Asolo-Ogugua’s decision to drive after using drugs “reckless and utterly selfish,” adding that it resulted in “unimaginable loss” for Ada’s loved ones.

In a powerful gesture of compassion, Ada’s family chose to donate her organs, ensuring that her legacy lives on by helping save other lives.