A Magistrates’ Court in Osogbo, Osun State, has ordered the remand of five men, including the Imam of a central mosque, following the death of a worshipper during morning prayers in January.
The court, presided over by Magistrate A. Daramola, granted a police application on Monday to remand the suspects at the Ilesa Correctional Centre. The application was filed ex parte by the Osun State Police Command, which sought to detain the men pending legal advice from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). The police argued this was necessary under the Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Osun State, 2018, to lawfully keep the suspects in custody during the ongoing investigation.
Those remanded are Abdulgafar Sakariyah, 51, the Imam of Ummu Haani Adigun Memorial Central Mosque, along with Kosamotu Hakeem, 50; Fokorunso Mukaila, 57; Sakariyau Hafeez, 45; and Abdulwasiu Olatunji, 29. An affidavit in support of the application, deposed to by Inspector Bashir Sulaiman of the Homicide Section, SCID, Osogbo, detailed the incident. It stated that the deceased, Ahmed Najeem, a car painter, forcibly took the microphone from the Imam during Subuhi prayers around 6:15am on January 30, 2026. The affidavit alleged Najeem attempted to strike the Imam with the microphone stand, after which he was beaten to death by the respondents.
The case has been adjourned until February 24, 2026, for further mention while awaiting the DPP’s legal advice, which will determine if the suspects will be formally charged. The fatal altercation reportedly sparked further unrest, with the victim’s family and friends storming the mosque during Friday prayers later that same day, causing a disturbance. The court’s remand order extends the detention of all five suspects as the investigation continues.
