Naomi Silekunola, ex-queen of Ife; Oriyomi Hamzat, owner of Agidigbo FM; and Abdulahi Fasasi, principal of Islamic High School, Bashorun, were released from Agodi Correctional Centre on Tuesday, 21 days after being remanded over the death of 35 children during a stampede in Ibadan, Oyo State.
On Monday, Justice K. B. Olawoyin of the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan granted the defendants bail in the amount of N10 million each, with two sureties in the same amount.
The Oyo State Government has charged them with 18 counts of murder and manslaughter in connection with the December 18 tragedy.
Following their release on Tuesday, Hamzat was greeted by a large gathering of supporters at his broadcasting station, where he was seen in tears while speaking to the audience.
He told the crowd, “Oriyomi is back. At this time, I am in a moment of silence. Thank you very much.”
On Monday, Justice Olawoyin rejected the state government’s opposition to the defendants’ bail plea, stating that because the fatal stampede was not a deliberate act, the defendants were entitled to bail.
While criticising the defendants’ detention, the judge stated that there is no basis in Nigerian law for a holding charge, which was utilised to detain them by a magistrates’ court.
“There was no place for holding charge in the Constitution, and keeping them in custody would amount to an infringement on their rights, especially without taking them to the right court that could entertain the charges against them,” Justice Olawoyin said.
In the charge sheet, marked I/05C/2025, the government accused the defendants of “conspiracy to commit a felony to wit: murder, manslaughter, conspiracy to commit an offence to wit: criminal negligence, and criminal negligence.”
The acts were alleged to be contradictory to and punishable under Section 324 of the Criminal Code, CAP 38, Vol II, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
In the charge sheet obtained by Chronicle NG, the prosecution revealed the names and details of 14 of the 35 children who perished in the event.
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 program 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.”
