Osogbo Mosque Death: Court Orders Imam, Four Others into Custody

Five individuals, including the Imam, have been placed on detention by an Osogbo Magistrates’ Court in relation to the death of a worshipper during morning prayers in the state capital.

Abdulgafar Sakariyah, 51, the Imam of Ummu Haani Adigun Memorial Central Mosque, was among those remanded in detention together with four other individuals: Kosamotu Hakeem, 50; Fokorunso Mukaila, 57; Sakariyau Hafeez, 45; and Abdulwasiu Olatunji, 29.

On Monday, the suspects were taken before Magistrate A. Daramola after the Osun State Police Command filed a plea to hold them until the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions could provide guidance.

The police asked an order putting the suspects to a detention facility while investigations are completed and legal counsel is obtained in a motion filed ex parte.

Inspector Bashir Sulaiman of the Homicide Section, State Criminal Investigation Department, SCID, Osogbo, deposed to an affidavit supporting the application.

The document states that “the incident occurred on January 30, 2026, at about 6:15am during Subuhi prayers at the central mosque in Osogbo.”

The deceased, identified as Ahmed Najeem, allegedly entered the mosque and “forcefully collected the microphone from the Imam during the morning prayer,” according to Inspector Sulaiman.

Additionally, the affidavit stated that the Imam was “beaten to death by the respondents in an attempt to hit him with the microphone stand.”

The police informed the judge that the application was filed in accordance with Osun State’s 2018 Administration of Criminal Justice Law and emphasized that a remand order was necessary in order to legitimately hold the suspects.

Additionally, it stated that “there is no other way to remand the respondents in a correctional center pending the outcome of legal advice from the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, unless the application is granted.”

Magistrate Daramola approved the request after reviewing the application and directed that the five suspects be placed under remand at the Ilesa Correctional Center.

The subject was postponed to February 24, 2026, for additional discussion while the DPP issued legal advice.

It has been reported that on Friday, January 30, 2026, a group of worshippers severely injured Najeem, a vehicle painter.

But he passed away later that day due to his injuries, which led to chaos as his friends and family stormed the mosque during Friday Juma’at prayers.