IBADAN STAMPEDE: OYO GOVT DROPS CHARGES AGAINST EX-QUEEN NAOMI, HAMZAT, PRINCIPAL
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The Oyo State Government has officially withdrawn the criminal charges against Naomi Silekunola, the ex-wife of the Ooni of Ife; Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat, the owner of Agidigbo FM; and Abdullahi Fasasi, the principal of the Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan, over the tragic stampede that claimed the lives of at least 35 children during a children’s festive party in December 2024.
The defendants appeared visibly relieved, smiling and exchanging pleasantries following the trial on Thursday, signaling their sense of freedom after being cleared of the charges.
This update was later confirmed by the State’s Attorney General, Abiodun Aikomo, who spoke to the media after the court session.
Speaking in a live coverage on Facebook, the Attorney General said: “It was an unfortunate incident that led to the death of many. And you see, in law, whenever death occurs and the circumstances are not natural, the law will take its course. So the state responded by filing charges against the persons implicated in the investigation.
“In the course of doing that, we actually wanted to prosecute but the affected persons showed empathy. They showed compassion. And as far as human beings can do, they try to persuade the feelings of the affected parties.
“And the circumstance, we felt, the essence of prosecution is not to kill people or persecute them. It is in the interest of justice to discontinue these charges, and that is what happened today.”
This decision follows a lengthy period of legal proceedings. Earlier, the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan granted bail to Naomi, Hamzat, and Fasasi.
The ruling, issued by Justice Kamorudeen Olawoyin, came after the defendants presented their bail applications before the court.
Naomi was granted bail in the sum of N10 million with two sureties, while Hamzat and Fasasi were granted similar bail terms.
Additionally, the court ordered the defendants to deposit their passports with the court and prohibited them from giving interviews, effectively restricting their public engagements.
The case gained widespread attention following the tragic stampede at Islamic High School, Bashorun, during a children’s event in December 2024, where many young lives were lost in the ensuing chaos.
The incident left the victims’ families and the public devastated, marking one of the most heartbreaking tragedies in Oyo State’s recent history.
Initially, the prosecution, led by Oyo State’s Attorney General, opposed bail, stressing the severity of the charges and the need for justice for the victims.
However, the defense team argued that the accused had cooperated with the investigation and did not pose a flight risk.
Governor Seyi Makinde had previously stated that those responsible for the stampede must be held accountable but expressed willingness for the suspects to be granted bail during the proceedings.
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