Ibadan Stampede: Oyo Govt Takes Fresh Action Against Ooni’s Ex-Queen, Hamzat, Others

• Oyo government has taken fresh action against Olori Naomi Silekunola, Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat and Mr Abdulahi Fasasi
• Seyi Makinde's government has again dragged the trio to court and slammed them with murder and manslaughter charges
• Ex-Queen Naomi, Agidigbo FM chairman Hamzat, and Principal Fasasi were charged with negligence and murder in the Ibadan funfair stampede that claimed 35 children’s lives

Legit.ng journalist Esther Odili has over two years of experience covering political parties and movements.

The Oyo state government led by Seyi Makinde has filed a fresh suit against Naomi Shilekunola, the former queen of the Ooni of Ife; Hamzat Oriyomi, CEO of Agidigbo Radio; and Fasasi Abdullahi, principal of Islamic High School.

The government filed fresh charges against the trio on Friday, January 10, 2025, before the Oyo state high court in Ibadan.

In a charge sheet seen on Sunday, January 12, the government filed eight counts bordering on murder against the ex-queen and others over their alleged roles in a stampede that claimed the lives of 35 children.

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The Oyo state government was listed as the complainant, while Silekunola, Hamzat and Babatunde were named as defendants.

The offences are said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 324 of the Criminal Code, CAP 38, Vol II, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.

Oyo govt accuses Queen Naomi, others of murder

Oyo government accused the defendants of “conspiracy to commit a felony to wit: murder, manslaughter, conspiracy to commit an offense to wit: criminal negligence, and criminal negligence.”

The state also alleged that the defendants:

“Negligently omitted to provide adequate security, crowd control mechanisms, and medical facilities to prevent a stampede at a children’s funfair programme organised by you.”

In the charge sheet obtained by The Punch, the prosecution disclosed the names and details of 14 out of the 35 children who died in the incident. They include:

1. Musiliu Sofiat, female, 8 years;
2. Lekan Salami, male, 7 years;
3. Feyikemi Salam, female, 15 years;
4. Olaniyan Joshua, male, 15 years;
5. Laeef Muisi, male, 8 years;
6. Opeyemi Ayomide, female, 4 years;
7. Adebayo-Fatimah, female, 4 years;
8. Adebayo-Abibat, female, 5 years;
9. Adeyanju Taiwo, female, 8 years;
10. Salaudeen Khalid, male, minor;
11. Anjorin Faridat, female, 10 years;
12. Nahaam Muisi, male, 13 years; and
13. Babatunde Toheeb, male, 18 years.

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Nigerians react as Oyo govt drags Queen Naomi, others to court

As usual, Nigerians took to the comment section on X and reacted to the development.

Legit.ng compiled a few reactions below:

@LydiaValch tweeted:

"Imagine if @seyiamakinde organized political rice sharing, stampede happened, will he be in prison?"

@SamuelI10540458 tweeted:

"Hamzat and Naomi will come out of this."

@YeyeOba001 tweeted:

"This is absolute rubbish. Stampede happened. How did that become a conspiracy to commit murder? This is fast becoming a witch hunt, honestly. This seems to me like a blackmail tactic to squeeze money out of her."

@TanimowoBolu tweeted:

"E be like day these two don offend some people in high places wey wan deal with them. They should quickly find elders to help them settle it o, because what's all these crazy charges?"

Read more about Ibadan stampede here:

• Ibadan stampede: Oyo state opposes bail for former queen Naomi, others
• Stampede deaths: 8 governors list tough conditions for palliative distribution

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Queen Naomi's mum speaks up

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the mother of Queen Naomi Silekunola had shared what she knows about the Ibadan stampede that left some children dead.

She revealed the time when the number of people who trooped to benefit from her daughter's philanthropy became massive.

Proofreading by Nkem Ikeke, journalist and copy editor at Legit.ng.

Source: Legit.ng