A Magistrate Court in Osogbo, Osun State, has ordered the remand of a 42-year-old man, Wale Ogunsanmi, over allegations of fatally stabbing Bishop Shina Olaribigbe, the founder of Rapture Empowerment International Church.
The Osun State Police Command, through its Criminal Investigation Department, charged Ogunsanmi with one count of murder.
The charge sheet, marked MoS/19c/2025 and signed by B. Adaraloye, head of the state CID’s legal/prosecution section, detailed that the incident occurred on January 1, 2025, at about 8:55 p.m. in the Fan Milk area of Ajegunle, Osogbo.
The charge stated, “That you, Wale Ogunsanmi, on the 1st of January, 2025, at about 8:55 p.m., at Fan Milk Area of Ajegunle, Osogbo, in the Osogbo Magisterial District, did unlawfully stab one Shina Olaribigbe to death and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 319 of the Criminal Code, Cap 33, Volume 1, Laws of Osun State of Nigeria, 2002.”
Due to jurisdictional limitations, the court did not record Ogunsanmi’s plea.
Presiding Magistrate A. O. Odeleye ordered the suspect’s remand at Ilesa Correctional Centre and adjourned the case for further proceedings.
Earlier reports revealed that Ogunsanmi allegedly attacked Bishop Olaribigbe after finding him in the company of his estranged wife.
Spokesperson for the Osun State Police Command, Yemisi Opalola, said, “The bishop was in the woman’s residence when her husband arrived and stabbed him several times. It is believed the suspect acted out of suspicion that the pastor was having an affair with his wife.”
Opalola further disclosed that the couple had been separated for a year due to marital issues, and the bishop had previously acted as a mediator during their conflicts.
The tragic incident reportedly occurred when Ogunsanmi forcibly entered his estranged wife’s residence and found the bishop in the bedroom.
Police from the Dugbe Division arrived at the scene promptly, arrested the suspect, and retrieved the weapon used in the attack.
The victim’s body has been deposited at the UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital Mortuary, Osogbo, where an autopsy is expected to be conducted.
