…On Monday, Chief Magistrate court continue hearing, High Court rules on bail application
By Adeyinka Adeniran
Oyo State government has slammed a fresh suit on a former wife of the Ooni of Ife, Olori Prophetess Naomi Silekunola, the proprietor of an Ibadan based radio station, Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat and the Principal, Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan, Mr Abdulahi Fasasi.
The 18 count suit with Charge number: I/05C/2025 is: the State government versus Naomi Silekunola Ogunwusi, Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat and Fasasi Abdulahi Babatunde
The suit was filed at the State High Court on Friday, January 10th, 2025.
The 18 count charges borders on: conspiracy to commit a felony to wit: murder, manslaughter, conspiracy to commit an offence to wit: criminal negligence, and criminal negligence.
The offences were said to be contrary to and punishable under section 324 of the criminal code, CAP 38, vol II Law of Oyo state, 2000.
In the charge sheet sighted by Corenews, the Prosecution revealed names and details of 14 out of the reported 35 victims of the incident.
The names on the charge sheet include: Musiliu Sofiayah, ‘f, 8years, Lekan Salami ‘m’ 7years, Feyikemi Salam, ‘f’,1 and a half year, Olaniyan Joshua ‘m’, 1 and a half years and Lateef Muisi ‘m’ 8years.
Others are: Opeyemi Ayomide ‘f’ 4yrars, Adebayo- Fatimah, ‘f’, 4years, Adebayo- Abibat, ‘f’, 5years, Adeyanju Taiwo, ‘f’, 8years, Salaudeen Khalid ‘m’ minor, Anjorin Faridat, ‘f’,10years, Nahaam Muisi ‘m’ 13years and Babatunde Toheeb ‘m’ 18years.
The charge also said the suspects also “did conspires together to commit a felony to wit: criminal negligence, and thereby committed an offense contrary to and punishable under section517 of the criminal code CAP 38, Vol II, Law of Oyo state, 2000.
“Did negligently omit to provide adequate security, crowd control mechanism and medical facilities to prevent stampede at a children funfair programme organised by you and your negligent omission resulted to the death of one Musiliu Sofiat, ‘f’, aged 8years and 34 other children and thereby committed an offence contrary to section 308 and punishable under section. 344 of the criminal code 38, Vol II Laws of Oyo state, 2000.”
Two different courts in Ibadan will also be hearing the matter related to the trio on Monday.
While an Oyo State High Court will be ruling on the bail application of the trio before it, a Chief Magistrate Court will be hearing the case after it adjourned last year and ordered the trio to be kept at the Agodi Correctional Centre.
Corenews reports that Justice K. B Olawoyin presiding over Court 8, Oyo State High Court, Ring Road, Ibadan also fixed Monday, January 13, 2025 to deliver his ruling on the bail application filed by Olori Naomi Silekunola, Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat and Abdulahi Fasasi.
Olori Naomi is the ex-wife of the Ooni of Ife, and runs Wing Foundation, an NGO. Hazmat is the proprietor of an Ibadan based radio station, Agidigbo FM while Fasasi is the Principal, Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan.
The trio are facing trial following the death of 35 children as a result of stampede at Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan. The event was organised by Naomi’s Wings Foundation while Oriyomi Hamzat radio station, Agidigbo FM promoted the event massively.
Additionally, Chief Magistrate, Mrs Olabisi Ogunkanmi presiding over Chief Magistrate Court 1, Iyaganku, Ibadan had on December 24, 2025 ordered the trio to be remanded at the Agodi Correctional facility pending an advise from the Department of Public Prosecution of the Oyo State Ministry of Justice.
Silekunola, Oriyomi and Fassasi are facing trial on a four count charge which bothers on conspiracy, acceleration of death, negligent acts causing harm and omitting to provide adequate security and medical facilities.
The case with charge number C/2024 is: Commissioner of Police Versus Naomi Silekunola ‘f’ 31yrs, Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat ‘m’ 51years, and Fasasi Abdulahi Babatunde, ‘m’, 56years.
As at the time of this report, it could not be confirmed if the DPP Advise had been approved and issued to the police for onward transmission to the Chief Magistrate, but it was gathered that the new 18 count criminal charge filed against the trio by the state government would have been deduced from the advice.
