An Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti has sentenced 41-year-old Olasunkanmi Kareem to life imprisonment for attempting to murder his former employer by setting him on fire.
Kareem was arraigned on November 18, 2024, facing a one-count charge of attempted murder, in violation of Section 241 of the Ekiti State Criminal Law, 2021. The charge states that on August 11, 2024, at Ifaki Ekiti, Kareem attempted to kill Omoboriwo Bashiru by setting him ablaze.
In his testimony, Bashiru explained that Kareem had once been his apprentice at his mechanic workshop. Even after Kareem completed his training, Bashiru continued to help him whenever he faced issues with customer cars. On the day of the incident, Kareem called Bashiru around 8 PM regarding a carburettor that Bashiru had repaired for him. When Bashiru told him he couldn’t find it, Kareem became aggressive, using abusive language and threatening to burn him alive wherever he found him. Bashiru thought it was a joke.
Later, Bashiru contacted Kareem again, and they arranged to meet at a vulcanizer’s workshop. When they met, an argument broke out, and unknown to Bashiru, Kareem was holding a gallon of petrol. It was dark, and Bashiru didn’t see it until Kareem poured it on him and set him on fire. Realizing what had happened, Bashiru tried to flee, but he was already burning. He fell into a drainage, and passersby quickly intervened, extinguishing the flames and helping him to the hospital with severe burns.
The prosecution, led by Kunle-Shina Adeyemo, presented four witnesses, as well as Kareem’s statements, photographs of the victim, and a medical report as evidence. Kareem testified in his defense but did not present any witnesses.
In his ruling, Justice Jibril Aladejana stated that Kareem had intentionally lured Bashiru to a secluded spot, ambushed him behind an electric pole, and drenched him in petrol before setting him on fire. The judge noted that had it not been for the quick intervention of passersby, Bashiru could have died. Justice Aladejana concluded that Kareem’s actions constituted attempted murder due to the deliberate intent to cause grievous harm.
The judge declared that Kareem showed no remorse and deserved no leniency, sentencing him to life imprisonment.