The Oyo State Government has filed 18 charges, including manslaughter, against Naomi Silekunola (former wife of the Ooni of Ife), Oriyomi Hamzat (CEO of Agidigbo FM), and Fasasi Abdullahi (Principal of Islamic High School) in relation to the tragic stampede at a Christmas Funfair in Ibadan, which resulted in the deaths of 35 children.
A government source revealed that the charges were directly related to the deadly incident.
“The court is expected to decide on bail on Monday, but the state government has officially filed 18 charges of manslaughter and other related offences against the defendants,” the source said.
On January 7 at the Oyo State High Court, the defendants’ legal representatives argued strongly for bail, highlighting their full cooperation with the investigation and asserting that they did not pose a flight risk. The defence also contested the legality of the detention, claiming procedural errors.
The lawyers criticized the use of a “holding charge” to detain the defendants, pointing out that it is not recognized under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA).
Leading the prosecution, Oyo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Abiodun Aikomo, opposed the bail requests. He argued that the defendants had not provided sufficient justification for their release and dismissed claims of persecution by the state government as baseless.
Aikomo emphasized the seriousness of the charges, saying, “The severity of these offences and the need for justice for the victims and their families warrant the continued detention of the accused.”
After hearing both sides, Justice K.B. Olawoyin stated that a ruling on the bail applications would be made on Monday, January 13, 2025.
The case involves three main defendants:
- Naomi Silekunola: Former wife of the Ooni of Ife.
- Oriyomi Hamzat: CEO of Agidigbo FM.
- Fasasi Abdullahi: Principal of Islamic High School.