Stampede: Oyo govt files manslaughter charges against Ooni’s ex-wife, Naomi, others

The Oyo State Government has brought an 18-count charge, including manslaughter, against Naomi Silekunola, the former wife of the Ooni of Ife; Oriyomi Hamzat, CEO of Agidigbo FM; and Fasasi Abdullahi, Principal of Islamic High School.

These charges stem from the tragic stampede during a Christmas Funfair in Ibadan, which resulted in the deaths of 35 children.

According to a government source, the charges relate to the deadly incident, and the court is expected to rule on bail on Monday. The 18 counts include manslaughter and related offenses.

At the Oyo State High Court on January 7, the defense team presented a strong case for bail, arguing that the defendants had cooperated with investigations and were not a flight risk. They also questioned the constitutionality of the detention, claiming the “holding charge” was procedurally flawed under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.

The prosecution, led by Oyo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice Abiodun Aikomo, opposed the bail applications, citing the seriousness of the charges and the need for justice for the victims’ families. Aikomo dismissed claims of state persecution as unfounded, arguing that the accused had not justified their release.

Justice K.B. Olawoyin has reserved his ruling on the bail applications until Monday, January 13, 2025. The case centers around three defendants: Naomi Silekunola, Oriyomi Hamzat, and Fasasi Abdullahi.