The ruling was pronounced by Justice Kamorudeen Olawoyin of the Oyo State High Court, on Monday.
The Oyo State High Court in Ibadan has granted the bail applications filed by the ex-wife of the Ooni of Ife, Naomi Silekunola, owner of a prominent indigenous radio station, Agidigbo FM, Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat and the Principal of Islamic High School, Bashorun, Abdullahi Fasasi.
The ruling was pronounced by Justice Kamorudeen Olawoyin of the Oyo State High Court, on Monday.
Oriyomi was granted N10 million bail and required to provide two sureties.
The court also ruled that his organisation must not broadcast the news.
The defendants argued their bail applications before the court last Tuesday but the court later ruled that the defendants should be remanded in prison till today (Monday) for a ruling on their bail application.
Last Tuesday, the defence team made a case for bail, arguing that the accused didn’t pose a flight risk and were willing to cooperate with the investigation.
However, the Oyo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Abiodun Aikomo, strongly countered this motion, highlighting the seriousness of the charges and the need to ensure justice for the victims and their families.
Adekunle Shobaloju (SAN), counsel for one of the defendants, Hamzat Oriyomi, said, “Well, what we did was we filed an application that he should be admitted to bail pending arraignment, and the application was argued today.
“The court listened to all the various arguments, and the ruling was reserved till the 13th of January. So principally, we are saying that he ought to be admitted on bail based on certain grounds which I would not want to expatiate on here.”
The defendants were arrested over the ill-fated children’s festive party in December 2024 which claimed the lives of at least 35 children following a stampede at the Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan.
The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has insisted that those involved in the stampede must face trial. He, however, added that he wasn’t against the suspects being granted bail in the case.
Meanwhile, the Oyo State Government has filed eight counts, bordering on murder and manslaughter against the ex-queen of the Ooni of Ife, Naomi Silekunola, the proprietor of an Ibadan-based radio station, Oriyomi Hamzat, and the Principal of Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan, Abdulahi Fasasi.
The charge sheet, marked I/05C/2025, sighted by our correspondent on Sunday, was filed on Friday, January 10, 2025 before the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan.
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In the 18 counts, the 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 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.
In the charge sheet, the prosecution disclosed the names and details of 14 out of the 35 children who died in the incident.
They include Musiliu Sofiat, female, eight years; Lekan Salami, male, seven years; Feyikemi Salam, female, 1.5 years; Olaniyan Joshua, male, 1.5 years; Laeef Muisi, male, eight years; Opeyemi Ayomide, female, four years; Adebayo-Fatimah, female, four years; Adebayo-Abibat, female, five years; Adeyanju Taiwo, female, eight years; Salaudeen Khalid, male, minor; Anjorin Faridat, female, 10 years; Nahaam Muisi, male, 13 years; and Babatunde Toheeb, male, 18 years.
The state 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.”
It alleged that the defendants’ “negligent omission resulted in the death of Musiliu Sofiat, aged 8 years, and 34 other children, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 308 and punishable under Section 344 of the Criminal Code, CAP 38, Vol II, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.”
Fasasi faces trial on a four-count charge, including conspiracy, acceleration of death, negligent acts causing harm, and failure to provide adequate security and medical facilities.
As the case is still in court, the defendants are required to be present in court for the next hearing, pending arraignment.
