An Oyo State High Court in Ibadan has struck out all charges against Naomi Silekunolami, the former wife of the Ooni of Ife, broadcaster Oriyomi Hamzat, and Abdullahi Fasasi, the principal of Islamic High School, in connection with the December 2024 stampede that claimed the lives of 35 children.
Delivering the ruling on Thursday, Justice B. K. Olawoyin stated that holding the defendants accountable for the tragedy could discourage future humanitarian efforts.
The defendants had faced a four-count charge, including conspiracy, negligence, and failure to provide adequate security, but the court dismissed the case.
The stampede occurred on December 18, 2024, during a Christmas funfair organised by Silekunolami in collaboration with Hamzat. The event, meant to spread festive cheer to underprivileged children, turned tragic when overcrowding led to a deadly rush. Reports suggested that poor crowd control played a significant role in the incident.
Prosecutors had argued that the organisers failed to implement adequate safety measures, which contributed to the deaths and injuries.
The three defendants were initially detained in December but were granted bail on January 13, 2025. Their bail conditions included:
– A N10 million bond
– Two sureties with landed property within the court’s jurisdiction
– Surrender of their international passports
– A restriction on media interviews during the trial
Speaking after the court’s decision, Oyo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Biodun Aikomo, revealed that while the government had initially pursued prosecution, it later withdrew the charges.
He explained that the decision was made out of empathy and compassion for the affected families.
“We have made efforts to console the bereaved, and discontinuing the trial was in the interest of justice,” Aikomo stated.