A High Court in Ekiti State has sentenced a 41-year-old man, Olasunkanmi Kareem, to life imprisonment for attempting to murder his former boss, Omoboriwo Bashiru.
Justice Jubril Aladejana delivered the judgment on Wednesday, saying Kareem deliberately set his former master ablaze, an act he described as an attempted murder.
The crime took place on August 11, 2024, in Ifaki-Ekiti. According to the charge, Kareem poured petrol on Bashiru and set him on fire after an argument over a missing carburetor.
In his testimony, Bashiru told the court, “The defendant was my apprentice for over ten years. Even after he graduated, I still helped him when he had issues with his customers.”
He explained that on the night of the incident, Kareem called him around 8:00 p.m. to ask about a carburetor. When he told him he did not see it, Kareem started abusing and threatening him.
“I thought he was joking. I later called him, and he described where he was. We met at a vulcanizer’s shop, and an argument started. I didn’t know he was holding a gallon of petrol because it was dark. Suddenly, he poured the petrol on me.”
Bashiru said he tried to run when he realized it was petrol, but Kareem set him on fire.
“I fell into a drainage where some passersby helped to put out the fire. I had severe burns all over my body and was rushed to the hospital,” he added.
The prosecutor, Kunle-Shina Adeyemo, presented the victim’s medical report, pictures of his injuries, and the defendant’s statements as evidence.
Kareem, who defended himself through his lawyer, called no witnesses.
In his ruling, Justice Aladejana stated, “The defendant lured the victim to his shop and ambushed him with petrol. If not for passersby, the victim would have died.”
He added that Kareem’s actions showed a clear intent to kill, and he did not deserve any leniency.
“In the circumstances, the defendant is sentenced to life imprisonment,” the judge ruled.
