Court sentences domestic driver to 14 years for attempted murder of boss’s wife
story by Zara Ahmed
A Lagos State High Court sitting in Ikeja has sentenced one John Nsikak, a domestic driver, to 14 years imprisonment for attempting to murder his employer’s wife, Mrs. Anita Amorighoye.
Nsikak was accused of dousing Amorighoye with Premium Motor Spirit and attempting to set her ablaze.
Delivering judgment in charge No. ID/17689C/2021, Justice Modupe Nicol-Clay found the convict guilty of a six-count charge preferred against him by the Lagos State Government, including forcible entry, deprivation of liberty, assault, attempted arson, attempted murder, and wilful property damage.
The trial judge held that the convict, who had willingly entered into a plea bargain agreement with the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions, demonstrated remorse for his actions and clearly understood the consequences of his guilty plea.
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“This Court is satisfied, under Section 76(6) of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law 2011, that the defendant willingly entered into the plea bargain agreement and understands the implication of pleading guilty,” the judge stated.
According to court records, the incident occurred on April 20, 2019, at about 4:00 p.m., at the complainant’s office located at No. 21B, Headlington Close, Ladogan Estate, Lekki Phase 1, Lagos.
Nsikak, who was employed as a driver by Mrs Amorighoye and her husband, Mr Toju Amorighoye, reportedly stormed the office, concealed Premium Motor Spirit in a Ragolis water bottle, and poured it on the complainant to set her ablaze.
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In her testimony, Amorighoye recounted the traumatic events thus: “He had earlier threatened to burn the generator after damaging my car. He was holding iron rods and made attempts to switch off the generator.
“He had carried out all his threats, so it was easy to believe he could go further,” she said.
“I was scared; we didn’t know what he would do.”
She added that the convict had previously been given accommodation by her husband, though she was unaware of the financial arrangements.
“I don’t know the details. My husband offered him accommodation. I am not aware of any promises to pay for it,” she testified.
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On April 16, 2025, the defendant was re-arraigned on an amended charge dated June 10, 2024.
The charge was read to him, and he pleaded guilty to the charge.
The court subsequently adopted the Plea Bargain Agreement, which recommended a sentence of fourteen (14) years’ imprisonment.
Nsikak committed the offences on April 29, 2019, at No. 21b Headlington Close, Ladogan Estate, Lekki Phase 1, within Lagos.
The incident was triggered after Mrs Amorighoye conveyed an instruction from her husband asking the convict to stay off duty for a week.
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According to the prosecution’s case, led by Mrs. Titilayo Olanrewaju-Daudu, the convict returned that same day, entered Mrs. Amorighoye’s office, locked the door behind him, poured PMS on her, and attempted to ignite a match.
Nsikak was arraigned on June 8, 2021, and pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Trial commenced on November 25, 2021, with the prosecution calling two witnesses and tendering one exhibit.
Testifying as the first prosecution witness, Mrs Amorighoye narrated the ordeal.
She stated: “He came into my office, locked the door and pulled out a plastic bottle. He told me the content was fuel and that he was going to burn me alive. He poured it all over me and brought out a matchbox, trying to light it.”
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She said she screamed for help and struggled with the defendant until other staff members heard her cries and broke down the door to rescue her.
“They pulled him off me. He was restrained and kept in the building until more help arrived,” she testified.
Amorighoye further told the court that the convict proceeded to vandalise her Mercedes-Benz E350 parked outside, smashing its windscreen and components.
She said, “He took two pieces of metal and destroyed all the glasses on my vehicle. Then he demanded that we pay him ₦500,000 or he would burn down the entire building and the generator.”
She negotiated a sum of ₦200,000, issued a cheque to the defendant through the window, and contacted her husband, who called the police.
“I was drenched in fuel from head to toe. My eyes were burning, and I had to avoid anything that could ignite a spark. Eventually, the police came and took him away,” she recounted.
During cross-examination, the defence attempted to discredit the testimony, pointing out that no forensic test was conducted on the plastic bottle, clothing, or wig allegedly soaked in PMS.
However, PW1 maintained, “I know what fuel smells like. The smell filled the room and burned my eyes. I still remember that bottle and the fear I felt.”
She further stated she did not play any role in the defendant’s employment or dismissal, and that her knowledge of his previous employment with her husband was limited.
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“I only knew him as my husband’s driver. I didn’t handle his salary or accommodation matters,” she testified.
The second prosecution witness, Mr. Toju Amorighoye, the complainant’s husband, corroborated his wife’s account.
He testified that he had employed Nsikak multiple times between 2010 and 2019 and that he had provided temporary accommodation for him at his Boys’ Quarters.
“On the day of the incident, I had a flight to Port Harcourt and was expecting him at the office by 7:00 a.m., but he didn’t show up,” Mr. Amorighoye told the court.
“At around noon, I received a call that he had attacked my wife.
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“He concealed fuel in a water bottle, entered her office with a match, and held her by the neck. My secretary had to bite his hand to free her
He further testified that Nsikak had damaged his Mercedes-Benz vehicle and threatened to burn the generator.
“He said he was going to burn everything. We had to call security. I instructed that he be arrested immediately,” he said.
The court also admitted video footage from the office’s CCTV as evidence. The footage, which captured the entire incident, was tendered by Mr Amorighoye and admitted without objection as Exhibit TSL.1.
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