Ekiti: Court sentences man to life imprisonment for setting ex-boss on fire

An Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti has sentenced a 41-year-old man, Olasunkanmi Kareem, to life imprisonment for attempting to kill his former employer by setting him on fire.

Kareem was arraigned on November 18, 2024, on a charge of attempted murder, contrary to Section 241 of the Ekiti State Criminal Law, 2021.

According to the charge, “The defendant, on August 11, 2024, at Ifaki Ekiti, attempted to murder Omoboriwo Bashiru by setting him ablaze.”

During his testimony, the victim, Bashiru, stated that Kareem had been an apprentice at his mechanic workshop. He recounted how he often assisted Kareem even after his graduation.

“On that day, he called around 8 p.m. asking about a carburetor I had helped him repair. When I told him I didn’t have it, he insulted and threatened me, saying he would set me on fire wherever he saw me. I thought he was joking. Later, he described his location, and we met at a vulcanizer’s workshop, where an argument broke out,” Bashiru said.

He continued, “I didn’t realize he had a gallon of petrol in his hand because it was dark. Suddenly, he poured it on me. As I tried to run, I found myself engulfed in flames. I fell into a drainage, where some passersby managed to extinguish the fire. I suffered severe burns all over my body before being rushed to the hospital.”

The prosecution, led by Kunle-Shina Adeyemo, presented statements from the defendant, photographs of the victim, and a medical report as evidence. Four witnesses also testified against Kareem.

In his defense, Kareem testified through his lawyer but did not call any witnesses.

Delivering his judgment, Justice Jibril Aladejana stated, “The facts before the court show that the defendant lured the victim to his shop, ambushed him behind an electric pole, and deliberately doused him with petrol before igniting it. If not for the intervention of passersby, the victim would have died.”

He concluded, “This intentional act of causing grievous bodily harm constitutes an attempt to murder. The defendant does not deserve leniency. He must face the full weight of the law. Therefore, he is sentenced to life imprisonment.”