A landlord in the Idumota, Sola Solomon, allegedly poured petrol and set fire to one of his tenants, identified simply as Abeeb, aka Ogbon.
As the victim struggled to put out the flames, the 67-year-old landlord pushed him down from the top floor of the three-storey building.
The father of one was said to have landed with a thud, as the flames ate through his body.
The incident was said to have been caused by a disagreement between the landlord and the tenant of 5months over the use of the compound toilet.
However, the quarrel had been settled in the evening and a tenant who spoke on conditions of anonymity had pleaded with both parties to maintain the peace.
She said, “Before the incident of yesterday (Monday), there has been a quarrel in the house over the use of the toilet.
“Everybody had complained that the landlord always messed up the toilet after use.
“But yesterday, he had another quarrel with the Abeeb over the use of the toilet. During the argument, he threatened to set the man ablaze; the man also dared him.
“I called Abeeb and calmed him down; I also called the landlord and appealed to him to let the matter go, and he said he had forgiven Abeeb.”
It seemed like peace had reigned when the landlord, however, was sighted by residents later that evening carrying a jerrycan, saying he was going to buy fuel but apparently had waited patiently in his room till the victim returned from a football viewing centre where he had gone to watch a European league match between Arsenal and Liverpool football clubs.
It was learnt that around 12am, the landlord wet the passageway of the house and knocked on the door of the deceased. The continuous rap on the door was said to have forced Abeeb out to confront the intruder, only to see the landlord with a container of fuel.
As he stepped out of the house, the landlord poured the petrol on him. Before Abeeb could snatch the jerrycan from him, the landlord had ignited fire with a lighter in his hand. Abeeb struggled to put out the fire, but the landlord pushed him down from the third floor. He fell to the ground and died.
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