The Oyo State Government in Nigeria has officially withdrawn the criminal charges against Naomi Silekunola, the ex-wife of the Ooni of Ife; Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat, owner of Agidigbo FM; and Abdullahi Fasasi, principal of Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan.
The trio had been facing trial over the tragic stampede that claimed the lives of at least 35 children during a festive party in December 2024.
Following the court’s decision on Thursday, the defendants were seen exchanging pleasantries and smiling, relieved by the dismissal of charges.
Confirming the development, Oyo State Attorney General, Abiodun Aikomo, addressed the media, stating that while the state initially pursued prosecution due to the unnatural circumstances of the deaths, the accused had shown empathy and compassion toward the victims’ families.
“In law, whenever death occurs under unnatural circumstances, the law takes its course. The state responded by filing charges against those implicated in the investigation,” Aikomo explained during a live media briefing. “However, we realized that the purpose of prosecution is not to persecute but to serve justice. Given the circumstances, we found it appropriate to discontinue the charges.”
This decision follows months of legal proceedings. Earlier, the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan granted bail to Naomi, Hamzat, and Fasasi, despite the prosecution initially opposing their release due to the severity of the case.
Justice Kamorudeen Olawoyin ruled in favor of bail, setting Naomi’s at N10 million with two sureties, while Hamzat and Fasasi were granted similar terms. The court also ordered the defendants to surrender their passports and refrain from public interviews.
The case stemmed from a devastating stampede at Islamic High School, Bashorun, in December 2024, where dozens of children tragically lost their lives in a chaotic rush. The incident left families and the public in shock, marking one of the worst tragedies in Oyo State’s recent history.
Initially, Governor Seyi Makinde had insisted that those responsible for the disaster must face trial, though he later expressed openness to bail being granted during legal proceedings.
