The Oyo State Government has formally revoked criminal charges against Ife Ooni’s ex-wife Naomi Silekunola; Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat, owner of Aggigibo FM; Abdullahi Fasasi, principal of Ibadan Bashaoren Islamic High School.
Naija News The allegations were initially slammed three people following a tragic stampede in December 2024, killing at least 35 children during the Children’s Day, the report said.
After Thursday’s trial, the defendants were clearly relieved, smiling and exchanging pleasure, indicating that they were released from the charges.
Attorney General of Oyo State, abimalconfirmed the decision after the court meeting and addressed the media.
During Saharareporter’s live stream on Facebook, Aikomo said:This is an unfortunate event that has resulted in many deaths. Legally, the law takes action whenever death occurs and the situation is not natural. Therefore, the state responds by filing a lawsuit against those involved in the investigation.
In doing so, we actually want to sue, but the affected people show compassion. They show compassion. In terms of human capabilities, they try to convince the affected parties of their feelings. Moreover, we believe that the essence of prosecution is not to kill or persecute them.
The decision follows a long legal process. Prior to this, the OYO State High Court in Ibadan had granted bail to Naomi, Hamzat and Fasasi. Justice Kamorudin Olausin made a ruling after the defendant filed a bail application.
Naomi was granted two bonds to the guarantor, while Hamzat and Fasasi were granted bail on similar terms. The court also ordered suspects to keep their passports in the court and restricted their interviews, thus limiting their public participation.
The case began in December 2024 after a devastating stampede at the children’s activities at Bashloren Islamic High School, where dozens of young children died in a chaotic sprint. The public and the victim’s families were heartbroken by the tragic incident, one of the most painful events in recent memory of Oyo State.
The prosecution panel led by the Attorney General of Oyo State initially opposed the approval of bail to the defendant, highlighting the seriousness of the allegations and judicial requirements for the victims. However, the defense team argued that the defendants cooperated with the investigation and posed no flight risk.
Governor Makinde had previously insisted that those in charge of Stampede must face trial, but also expressed openness during the litigation process.
