• Christmas Funfare
• Naomi Silekunola
• Ooni
• Oyo State

OYO STATE GOVERNMENT FILES 18-COUNT CHARGE AGAINST NAOMI SILEKUNOLA, TWO OTHERS OVER DEADLY STAMPEDE

• 

  Nicolas Adekeye / 3 months
• 0
• 2 min read

The Oyo State Government has filed an 18-count charge against Naomi Silekunola, former wife of the Ooni of Ife, Hamzat Oriyomi, CEO of Agidigbo FM, and Fasasi Abdullahi, principal of Islamic High School, over a stampede at a Christmas Funfair in Ibadan that claimed the lives of 35 children. The government source disclosed that the charge includes manslaughter and related offenses. The suspects are currently in detention over their involvement in the deadly stampede. At the Oyo State High Court on January 7, the defense team argued passionately for the bail of the accused, citing their cooperation with investigations and lack of flight risk. However, the state government, through its Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Abiodun Aikomo, opposed the request, insisting that the applicants had not provided sufficient grounds for their release. Adekunle Sobaloju, counsel for Oriyomi, argued that the Oyo State Government had no legal justification to detain his client and other defendants. He stated that the government had no legal backing to detain his client and others arrested over the stampede, emphasizing that the “holding charge” employed to remand the trio lacked recognition under Nigeria’s Administration of Criminal Justice Act. Justice K.B. Olawoyin reserved his judgment on the bail applications, scheduling the ruling for Monday, January 13, 2025. The case has generated significant interest, with many commenting on the matter. While some have expressed sympathy for the victims and their families, others have criticized the government’s handling of the case.