Stampede: Court Finally Grants Naomi, Oriyomi, Bail, Gives Conditions

• The Oyo state high court has granted bail to ex-Queen Naomi Sikekunola, popular broadcaster Oriyomi Hamzat, and a top educator Abdulahib Fasasi
• The court granted the trio bail for their alleged involvement in the Ibadan stampede that resulted in the deaths of 35 children in December 2024
• Legit.ng reports that the judge admitted the suspects to bail with a bond of N10 million each and two sureties in like sums

Legit.ng journalist Ridwan Adeola Yusuf has over 9 years of experience covering metro.

Ibadan, Oyo state - An Oyo state high court, Ring Road, Ibadan, on Monday, January 13, granted bail to Silekunola Naomi, Oriyomi Hazmat, and Abdulahi Fasasi over a deadly stampede incident.

As reported by The Nation, Justice K. B. Olawoyin gave the ruling following a bail application filed by the counsels of the trio.

Court admits Queen Naomi, Oriyomi to bail

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Naomi is the ex-queen of Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, the Ooni of Ife, while Hamzat is a popular media entrepreneur in Ibadan. Fasasi is the embattled principal of Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan. All three individuals were prosecuted due to the death of many children during a charity programme organised by Naomi.

The judge gave five conditions for the bail to include: N10 million and two sureties who must submit landed documents within the jurisdiction of the court.

The other conditions are that the applicant must deposit their international passport with the court and they are barred from granting any form of interview during the time the case is active.

At the resumed hearing of the case at the magistrate court, Iyaganku, Sikiru Opaleye, the prosecutor, told Olabisi Ogunkanmi, the chief magistrate, that the state department of public prosecution (DPP) had deemed that the defendants have a case to answer.

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The court ruled that an appeal be filed and taken formally at the high court since the magistrate court lacks the jurisdiction to hear the case. Ogunkanmi explained that if the appeal is heard at the high court, the defendants will appear to have the case struck out at the magistrate court.

She subsequently adjourned the case to Monday, January 27, 2025, at the behest of Abdulfatai Oyedeji, counsel to Abdullahi (third defendant), for mention.

Oyedeji said at the next hearing, “the three defendants will appear, their appeals will be taken and from there, the battleground will shift to the high court”. He said if the defendants had been present in court, their appeals may have been taken on Monday, January 13.

Stampede: Stakeholder backs call for parents' arrest

Meanwhile, a member of the Federation of Ibadan Students Union (FIBSU), Kayode Yussuf Sadiq, has spoken out following the fatal stampede.

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In an interview with Legit.ng, Yussuf expressed his view that the real culprits were the parents who smuggled their children into the charity event. Yussuf questioned why the parents who threw their children over the fence to get into the event had not been held accountable.

He said:

"In fact, I'll really love the parents of the deceased children to be arrested too.

"Even if it'll be an unsuccessful move (due to nation's emotional status). At least, a statement of caution or 'threat' will go a long way to discourage future occurrence.

"In my findings and understanding, the organisers' have planning faults, but the bigger fault (over 75%) lies on the parents involved.

"These people did all they could to aid the bloodshed. Due to indiscipline, greed and covetousness."

Stampede: Naomi's mum speaks

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Funmilayo Ogunseyi, the mother of the former Queen of Ooni of Ife, Prophetess Naomi Silekunola, said her daughter fainted while in the custody of security operatives in Ibadan, Oyo state.

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In a viral video posted on the official Facebook page of the former queen, a distraught Ogunseyi begged for forgiveness, claiming that her daughter’s goals were only humanitarian. According to her, when her daughter collapsed in police custody, she was worried and cried to God.

Source: Legit.ng