An Ekiti State High Court in Ado Ekiti has sentenced 41-year-old Olasunkanmi Kareem to life imprisonment for the attempted murder of his former boss, Omoboriwo Bashiru. Kareem was formally charged on November 18, 2024, with a single count of attempted murder, a crime that violates Section 241 of the Criminal Law of Ekiti State, 2021. The charge detailed that on August 11, 2024, in Ifaki Ekiti, Kareem attempted to kill Bashiru by setting him on fire.
During the court proceedings, Omoboriwo Bashiru recounted the harrowing incident. He explained that Kareem, a former apprentice at his mechanic workshop, had called him under the guise of discussing a repaired carburetor. The conversation quickly turned aggressive, with Kareem threatening to set him ablaze. Bashiru, initially dismissing the threats, later met Kareem at a vulcanizer’s workshop, where an argument escalated. On best known to Bashiru, Kareem had brought petrol, which he then poured onto him and ignited. Bashiru suffered severe burns and was only rescued by passersby who extinguished the flames and rushed him to the hospital.
The prosecution, led by Kunle-Shina Adeyemo, presented evidence including witness testimonies, Kareem’s statements, photographs of Bashiru’s injuries, and a medical report. Kareem testified in his own defense but did not call any witnesses. Justice Jibril Aladejana, in delivering the judgment, determined that Kareem had intentionally lured Bashiru to a specific location and ambushed him, demonstrating a clear intent to cause grievous harm. The judge emphasized that only the intervention of bystanders prevented Bashiru’s death, solidifying the charge of attempted murder. Justice Aladejana concluded that Kareem showed no grounds for leniency and deserved the full severity of the law, resulting in the life imprisonment sentence.
