By John Dike, Osogbo
A Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Osogbo, Osun State, has ordered the state police command to release the original case file of Saheed Kareem, popularly known as Tanfeani, to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) within 24 hours.
The order was issued by Chief Magistrate Dr. O. A. Ayilara on Monday, August 31, 2026, in suit number MOS/M.808/2026, following an ex parte application filed by the Osun State Government.
Tanfeani is facing allegations linked to the death of 14-year-old Olapade Ezekiel, who was reportedly killed on June 21, 2026, during violence that erupted at the Irepodun Local Government Secretariat in Ilobu, Osun State.
The court expressed concern that its earlier directive for the transfer of the case file to the DPP had apparently not been complied with by the police.
In the ruling, the Chief Magistrate said she was surprised that the application had been brought before the court again, recalling that an earlier order had already directed the police to transfer the case file.
The court subsequently ordered the Commissioner of Police, Osun State Command, to submit the original case file relating to Kareem to the office of the DPP within 24 hours of receiving the enrolled order.
The directive is intended to enable the DPP to review the evidence contained in the case file and determine the appropriate legal action.
The court stated that the transfer of the case file was a procedural step and should not be interpreted as a determination of Kareem’s guilt or innocence.
Kareem had earlier been paraded by the Osun State Police Command alongside other suspects in connection with allegations of political thuggery.
The case has attracted attention because of the age of the deceased and the circumstances surrounding the violence at the Irepodun Local Government Secretariat.
The court’s latest order therefore places the police command under a clear obligation to make the case file available to the state’s prosecution authorities, paving the way for an independent legal assessment of the evidence and a decision on whether prosecution should proceed.
The development also underscores the role of the DPP in reviewing police investigations before criminal proceedings are instituted or continued.
For now, the court’s directive does not amount to a conviction or a finding that Tanfeani caused the teenager’s death.
Any determination of criminal responsibility will depend on the outcome of the investigation and, where applicable, subsequent judicial proceedings.
