A magistrates’ court sitting in Osogbo has ordered the remand of five men, including an imam, in connection with the death of a worshipper during morning prayers in the state capital.
Those remanded in custody included the Imam of Ummu Haani Adigun Memorial Central Mosque, Abdulgafar Sakariyah, aged 51, alongside four others: Kosamotu Hakeem, 50; Fokorunso Mukaila, 57; Sakariyau Hafeez, 45; and Abdulwasiu Olatunji, 29.
The suspects were brought before Magistrate A. Daramola on Monday following an application filed by the Osun State Police Command, seeking their remand pending advice from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.
In a motion filed ex parte, the police requested an order committing the defendants to a correctional facility while investigations are concluded and legal advice obtained.
An affidavit in support of the application was deposed to by Inspector Bashir Sulaiman of the Homicide Section, State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Osogbo.
According to the affidavit, “the incident occurred on January 30, 2026, at about 6:15am during Subuhi prayers at the central mosque in Osogbo.”
Inspector Sulaiman stated that the deceased, identified as Ahmed Najeem, allegedly entered the mosque and “forcefully collected the microphone from the Imam during the morning prayer.”
The affidavit further claimed that, “in an attempt to hit the Imam with the microphone stand, he was beaten to death by the respondents.”
The police told the court that the application was brought pursuant to the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Osun State, 2018 and stressed that a remand order was required to lawfully keep the suspects in custody.
It added that, “except the application is granted, there is no other way to remand the respondents in a correctional centre pending the outcome of legal advice from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions.”
After considering the application, Magistrate Daramola granted the request and ordered that the five suspects be remanded at the Ilesa Correctional Centre.
The matter was adjourned until February 24, 2026, for further mention pending the issuance of legal advice by the DPP.
