By Emmanuel Thomas l Thursday, August 06,2026
OSOGBO — The Osun State High Court sitting in Osogbo has granted an application for the issuance of a bench warrant of arrest against Kazeem Oyewale, popularly known as Asiri Eniba, over his failure to appear before the court to face murder charges.
The order was issued following an application by the prosecution, who alerted the presiding judge to the defendant’s deliberate absence despite court orders and notices served regarding the criminal proceedings.
Substituted Service and Non-Appearance in Court
The development marks a crucial turn in the high-profile criminal case instituted by the Osun State Ministry of Justice against Oyewale and several co-defendants.
According to court filings, the charges involve allegations of murder and unlawful possession of firearms in connection with the killings of Oyebamiji Taiwo and Oyebode Damisi in February 2025. The state government officially lodged the information at the Osun State High Court registry, setting the stage for formal prosecution.
Previous attempts by court bailiffs and law enforcement officers to serve the criminal information and proof of evidence on the defendant directly were reportedly thwarted by evasion. This prompted the trial court, presided over by Hon. Justice M. O. Awe, to grant an order for substituted service. Pursuant to the judicial directive, the criminal charges, proof of evidence, and hearing notices were published in a national daily to ensure public and legal notice.
Despite the substituted service and the subsequent scheduling of the arraignment, Oyewale failed to present himself in court, prompting the prosecution to pray for an immediate warrant for his arrest to compel his attendance.
Asiri Eniba has long been a controversial figure in Osun State, prominent within transport union politics and political circles in Osogbo and surrounding local government areas. His name has repeatedly surfaced in security reports and political discourse concerning violence and rival clash incidents in the state.
The current criminal case centers on the violent killings of Oyebamiji Taiwo and Oyebode Damisi, who were assassinated during a surge of localized violence. Following investigations by security agencies, the Ministry of Justice concluded that there was sufficient evidence to indict Oyewale and members of his gang on grave counts of capital offenses.
The Osun State Government, through the Ministry of Justice, maintained that no individual is above the law, reassuring the public that the pursuit of justice for the deceased victims would be carried out strictly through due process.
Broader Security Implications in Osun State
The bench warrant comes amidst heightened security operations across Osun State, where law enforcement agencies have intensified efforts to clamp down on political violence, transport union skirmishes, and armed groups.
State authorities have repeatedly urged the Nigeria Police Force and other security formations to execute all outstanding court warrants without fear or favor, emphasizing that curbing impunity remains vital to maintaining law, order, and public safety across Osogbo and neighboring towns.
With the bench warrant now active, law enforcement agencies—including the Osun State Police Command and relevant federal security apparatuses—are duty-bound to track down, arrest, and remand Kazeem Oyewale to ensure he is produced before the Osun State High Court for formal arraignment.
Further proceedings on the matter await the execution of the bench warrant by security forces.
