The Oyo State Government has officially withdrawn charges against former wife of the Ooni of Ife, Queen Naomi Silekunola, founder of Agidigbo FM; Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat and principal of Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan, Abdullahi Fasasi,
The three individuals had been facing legal proceedings over the December 2024 stampede at a children’s festive gathering, which resulted in the tragic deaths of at least 35 children.
During Thursday’s court session, relief was evident among the defendants as they exchanged greetings after being cleared of all charges.
Oyo State Attorney General, Abiodun Aikomo, confirmed the decision in a media briefing, stating that while legal action was necessary in response to the tragedy, the government’s focus remained on justice rather than punishment.
“It was an unfortunate incident that led to the loss of many lives,” Aikomo said in a Facebook live broadcast by SaharaReporters. “When deaths occur under unnatural circumstances, the law must take its course. However, we considered the empathy and compassion shown by the accused and decided it was in the interest of justice to discontinue the case.”
Prior to this development, the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan had granted bail to Naomi, Hamzat, and Fasasi.
Justice Kamorudeen Olawoyin had ruled that each must provide a ₦10 million bail bond, secure two sureties, surrender their passports, and avoid media engagements.
The case had drawn significant public attention, particularly from families of the victims, who had been demanding accountability for the tragic stampede at Islamic High School, Bashorun.
Governor Seyi Makinde had initially maintained that those responsible must be held accountable but also expressed willingness to explore legal resolutions.
Although prosecutors initially opposed bail due to the severity of the case, the defense countered that the defendants had cooperated fully with the investigation.
With the government’s decision to drop the charges, the legal battle over one of Oyo State’s most devastating incidents has now come to an end.
