An Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti has sentenced a 41-year-old man, Olasunkanmi Kareem, to life imprisonment for attempting to murder his former employer by setting him on fire.
Kareem was arraigned on November 18, 2024, on a charge of attempted murder, in violation of Section 241 of the Ekiti State Criminal Law, 2021.
According to the charge sheet, “The defendant, on August 11, 2024, at Ifaki Ekiti, attempted to murder one Omoboriwo Bashiru by setting him ablaze.”
Testifying in court, the victim, Bashiru, explained that Kareem was once his apprentice at his mechanic workshop. Even after completing his training, Kareem continued to seek his help with car repairs.
“That night, around 8 p.m., he called me about a carburetor I had helped him fix. When I told him I hadn’t seen it, he insulted me and threatened to set me on fire. I thought he was joking. Later, I called him, and he told me where he was,” Bashiru recounted.
“We met at a vulcanizer’s workshop, and an argument broke out. Unknown to me, he had a gallon of petrol. Since it was dark, I didn’t notice it until he poured it on me. When I realized what had happened, I tried to run, but my body was already on fire. I fell into a drainage before passersby rescued me and put out the flames. I suffered severe burns and was rushed to the hospital.”
The prosecution, led by Kunle-Shina Adeyemo, presented four witnesses and submitted Kareem’s statements, photographs of the victim, and a medical report as evidence. Kareem testified in his defense but did not call any witnesses.
In his ruling, Justice Jibril Aladejana stated that Kareem had deliberately ambushed Bashiru, doused him in petrol, and set him on fire.
“The facts before the court show that the defendant intended to cause grievous harm. But for the intervention of passersby, the victim would have died. This act amounts to attempted murder,” the judge ruled.
Justice Aladejana concluded that Kareem did not deserve leniency and sentenced him to life imprisonment.
