In a shocking case that has sent ripples through Ifaki Ekiti community, 41-year-old Olasunkanmi Kareem was sentenced to life imprisonment yesterday by an Ekiti State High Court for attempting to murder his former boss by dousing him with petrol and setting him ablaze.
The incident, which occurred on August 11, 2024, stemmed from what appeared to be a dispute over a carburetor repair.
According to court testimonies, Kareem, a former apprentice at the victim’s mechanic workshop, called his ex-boss Omoboriwo Bashiru around 8pm that evening regarding the missing part. When Bashiru informed him he didn’t have the carburetor, Kareem reportedly became verbally abusive and issued threats.
Later that night, the men met at a vulcanizer’s workshop where an argument escalated into violence.
Taking advantage of the darkness, Kareem ambushed Bashiru with a concealed gallon of petrol, dousing him before setting him alight. The victim testified that he realized what was happening only after feeling the liquid on his body, at which point he attempted to flee but was already engulfed in flames.
“I fell into a drainage before some passersby rescued me and put out the fire,” Bashiru recounted during the trial. He sustained severe burns and was rushed to hospital for emergency treatment.
Justice Jibril Aladejana, delivering the judgment on April 2, 2025, emphasized the premeditated nature of the attack, noting that Kareem had “lured the victim to a location, ambushed him behind an electric pole, and doused him with petrol before setting him on fire.”
The prosecution, led by Kunle-Shina Adeyemo, presented four witnesses and submitted Kareem’s statements, photographs of the victim’s injuries, and medical reports as evidence. Although Kareem testified in his own defense, he did not call any witnesses to support his case.
In his ruling, Justice Aladejana stated that “the facts before the court show that the defendant deliberately set out to harm the victim. But for the intervention of passersby, the victim would have died.” The judge concluded that Kareem “does not deserve leniency” and “should face the full wrath of the law” before handing down the life sentence.
The case, which was first brought before the court on November 18, 2024, charged Kareem with attempted murder contrary to Section 241 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021.
This sentencing comes amid growing concerns about violent disputes in master-apprentice relationships, highlighting the potential for professional disagreements to escalate into life-threatening situations.
