The Oyo State Government has filed an 18-count charge, including manslaughter, against Naomi Silekunola, the former wife of the Ooni of Ife, Oriyomi Hamzat, the CEO of Agidigbo FM, and Fasasi Abdullahi, the Principal of Islamic High School. This charge is in connection with the devastating stampede that occurred during a Christmas Funfair in Ibadan, resulting in the tragic loss of 35 children's lives.
According to a government source, the charges are directly related to the fatal incident. “The court is expected to consider bail on Monday, but the state government has formally filed an 18-count charge of manslaughter and related offences against the defendants,” the source disclosed.
The legal teams representing the defendants made strong arguments at the Oyo State High Court on January 7. They argued for the granting of bail, asserting that the defendants had cooperated fully with the investigations and were not flight risks. Furthermore, they raised concerns over the legality of the detention, stating that it involved a “holding charge,” which they argued was a procedural irregularity, as it is not recognized under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
In response, Oyo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Abiodun Aikomo, led the prosecution and opposed the bail applications. He argued that the defendants had not shown adequate grounds for their release, further dismissing claims of persecution by the state government as baseless. Aikomo stressed the serious nature of the charges and stated that the gravity of the offences and the need for justice for the victims and their families justified the continued detention of the accused individuals.
Justice K.B. Olawoyin, who was overseeing the proceedings, indicated that a ruling on the bail applications would be delivered on Monday, January 13, 2025, after carefully considering all submissions made by both the defense and prosecution teams.
The case revolves around three primary defendants, who are facing the manslaughter charges and other related offences:
Naomi Silekunola: The former wife of the Ooni of Ife, a prominent figure in the Oyo State society.Oriyomi Hamzat: The CEO of Agidigbo FM, a popular radio station in the region.
Fasasi Abdullahi: The Principal of Islamic High School, a key figure in the educational sector within Oyo State.
