Ex-queen, radio CEO, school principal get bail in Ibadan stampede case
BY STEPHEN GBADAMOSI
An Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan, the state capital, has granted N10 million bail to a former wife of Ooni of Ife, Naomi Silekunola, in the case of alleged manslaughter arising from the stampede that claimed 35 lives last December.
Justice Kamorudeen Olawoyin also granted bail to the CEO of Agidigbo FM, Mr. Oriyomi Hamzat; and the principal of Islamic High School, Mr. Abdullahi Fasasi.
The three defendants are facing trial for the deaths of 35 children during a stampede at a Christmas funfair programme on December 18, 2024, at Islamic High School, Orita Basorun, Ibadan.
The defendants were, on December 24, 2024, arraigned before an Iyaganku Magistrate’s Court on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, murder, negligent acts, and causing harm.
They were subsequently remanded at Agodi Correctional Centre.
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Thereafter, their counsel filed applications for their bail at the State High Court.
Delivery ruling on the bail application on Monday, Justice Olawoyin admitted the ex-queen and her co-defendants to bail in the sum of N10 million each, with two reliable sureties.
Olawoyin said the Magistrate’s Court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case, due to the murder charge contained in the charge sheet.
He said there was no place for holding charge in the constitution and keeping them in custody would amount to infringement on their rights.
He said the incident of the stampede was not a premeditated act, contending that the defendants were entitled to bail.
The judge directed that the defendants ought to submit their international passports to the court and ought not to grant any press interview in print or social media during the trial.
