Ibadan Stampede: Court Grants Bail to Naomi Silekunola, Hamzat

The Oyo State High Court has granted bail to Naomi Silekunola, the ex-wife of the Ooni of Ife, and Oriyomi Hamzat, CEO of Agidigbo FM. Each of them, along with the principal of the Islamic High School, was granted bail in the sum of N10 million with two sureties in like sum.

The three individuals are facing trial for their alleged involvement in a tragic stampede at a funfair in Ibadan last December, which resulted in the deaths of over 30 people, most of them children. They were initially remanded at Agodi Correctional Centre on December 24 after being charged with conspiracy, negligence causing harm, and failure to provide adequate security and medical facilities.

At a recent hearing at the Iyaganku Magistrate Court, Sikiru Opaleye, the prosecutor, informed the chief magistrate, Olabisi Ogunkanmi, that the Department of Public Prosecution (DPP) had determined the defendants have a case to answer. However, Ogunkanmi stated that the magistrate court lacks the jurisdiction to hear the case and directed that an appeal be filed at the high court. She clarified that once the appeal is heard at the high court, the case could then be struck out at the magistrate court.

The case was adjourned to January 27 at the request of Abdulfatai Oyedeji, counsel to the third defendant, for further mention. Oyedeji explained that during the next hearing, the defendants will appear to formally take their appeals, allowing the legal proceedings to shift to the high court. He noted that their physical presence is necessary for the appeals to proceed.