Naomi and others perfect bail conditions; Hamzat chokes with tears addressing supporters at radio station
Naomi Silekunola, former wife of the Ooni of Ife, and her two co-accused have perfected their bail conditions and regained freedom from detention over the death of 35 people, including women and children, in the food and cash stampede in Ibadan on 18 December 2024.
Oriyomi Hamzat (owner of Agidigbo FM, Ibadan) and Abdulahi Fasasi (principal of Islamic High School, Ibadan) were released along with her from Agodi Correctional Centre on Tuesday, 21 days after they were remanded.
Justice K. B. Olawoyin of the Oyo State High Court, Ibadan on Monday admitted them to bail in the sum of N10 million each with two sureties in like sum.
The defendants face 18 counts, involving murder and manslaughter, filed against them by the state government.
Following their release, Hamzat was welcomed by a mamoth crowd of well-wishers at Agidigbo FM, where he spoke in tears while addressing the people.
“Oriyomi is back. At this time, I am in a moment of silence. Thank you very much,” he told the crowd.
Olawoyin in his ruling on Monday rejected the government’s objection to the defendants’ bail applications, saying the tragedy was not a premeditated act and the defendants were entitled to bail.
He faulted the detention of the defendants, declaring that there is no place in Nigerian law for the holding charge used to detain them by a Magistrate’s Court.
“There is 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,” the Judge ruled.
The charge sheet accuses the defendants of “conspiracy to commit a felony to wit: murder, manslaughter, conspiracy to commit an offense to wit: criminal negligence, and criminal negligence” punishable under Oyo Criminal Code.
The prosecution disclosed the names and ages of 14 children out of the 35 people who died in the incident as follows:
- 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
- Babatunde Toheeb, male, 18 years
The government 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.
“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.”
– The PUNCH.
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