The Oyo State Government has officially withdrawn criminal charges against Naomi Silekunola, the ex-wife of the Ooni of Ife; Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat, owner of Agidigbo FM; and Abdullahi Fasasi, the principal of Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan, in connection with the deadly stampede during a December 2024 event that resulted in the deaths of at least 35 children.
Appearing in court on Thursday, March 20, the three defendants appeared visibly relieved, exchanging pleasantries after the ruling.
Oyo State Attorney General, Abiodun Aikomo, later confirmed the decision, stating that while the incident was tragic, the prosecution acknowledged the defendants’ empathy and their efforts to support the victims’ families.
“In law, when unnatural deaths occur, the state must act. However, the goal of prosecution is justice, not persecution. Given the circumstances, we decided to discontinue the charges,” Aikomo said in a live broadcast.
This decision follows weeks of legal proceedings, during which the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan had granted bail to the defendants.
Justice Kamorudeen Olawoyin had set Naomi’s bail at N10 million with two sureties, while Hamzat and Fasasi were granted similar conditions.
The court also ordered them to surrender their passports and prohibited media interviews.
The case arose from the fatal stampede at Islamic High School, Ibadan, during a children’s event that turned chaotic, leading to the tragic loss of life.
The families of the victims and the public were left devastated by the incident.
Initially, the prosecution had opposed bail, citing the severity of the case, while the defense argued that the accused had fully cooperated with the authorities and posed no flight risk.
Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde had previously vowed that those responsible would face trial but later expressed willingness to allow for bail.
With the charges now dropped, the case has taken an unexpected turn, though the painful memories of the tragedy remain fresh in the hearts of many.
