14-Year-Old’s Killing: Osun Court Orders Transfer Of Case File

The Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State, has ordered the state Commissioner of Police to transfer the original case file involving Saheed Kareem, popularly known as Tanfeani, to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) within 24 hours.

Kareem was arrested by the police in connection with the killing of 14-year-old Olapade Ezekiel in Ilobu, Osun State.
The order was made by Chief Magistrate I, Dr O. A. Ayilara, following an ex-parte application filed by the State in suit No. MOS/M.808/2026.

The respondents in the matter are Kareem and the Commissioner of Police, Osun State Command.

The court’s directive was contained in an Enrolment of Order issued on August 31, 2026.

In the order, the court said it had considered the application and affidavits placed before it and recalled that it had earlier directed that the case file be transferred to the Office of the DPP.

Consequently, the court ordered the Commissioner of Police to transfer the original case file to the DPP, Osun State, within 24 hours of receiving the enrolled order.

The transfer, according to the court, is to enable the prosecution authority to perform its statutory duties in relation to the case.

The court also made such further orders as it considered appropriate in the circumstances.

The development followed the June 21, 2026 killing of Ezekiel during a violent incident around the Irepodun Local Government Secretariat in Ilobu.

Kareem, also known as Tanfeani, was subsequently arrested by the police over the incident. He was later paraded alongside other suspects arrested in connection with alleged political thuggery and related violent offences in the state.

The transfer of the case file to the DPP will allow the prosecution authority to examine the evidence gathered by the police and determine the appropriate legal steps.

The court’s order, however, does not amount to a determination of Kareem’s guilt or innocence. He remains an accused person and any criminal liability must be established in accordance with due process of law.

Following Kareem’s arrest in June, Osun State Governor Ademola Adeleke had commended the Inspector-General of Police, Olatunji Disu, and the Osun State Police Command for the development.
The governor, through the Commissioner for Information and Public Enlightenment, Kolapo Alimi, described the arrest as a positive step while urging the police to intensify efforts to apprehend other suspects allegedly linked to the violence.

Adeleke had also called for the arrest of other wanted suspects identified as Asiri Eniba, Delaw, Ojuyobo, Aleba, Lucifer and Lasisi, among others, whom the government alleged were involved in acts of violence in parts of the state.