By Abiola Olawale
The Oyo State Government led by Governor Seyi Makinde has filed charges of alleged murder and manslaughter, against Naomi Silekunola, the former wife of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, along with Oriyomi Hamzat, the CEO of Agidigbo FM, and Fasasi Abdullahi, the principal of Islamic High School in Ibadan, Oyo State.
These charges stem from a tragic stampede that occurred during a Christmas funfair on December 18, 2024, which resulted in the deaths of 35 children.
The government detailed the alleged offences in a charge sheet, marked I/05C/2025, filed on Friday, January 10, 2025, before the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan.
The Oyo State Government was listed as the complainant while Silekunola, Hamzat and and Babatunde were named as defendants.
The specific counts include alleged conspiracy to commit murder, manslaughter, and criminal negligence due to the alleged failure to provide adequate security, crowd control mechanisms, and medical facilities at the event.
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.”
It would be recalled that Naomi, Hamzat and Fasasi have been arrested following the tragic stampede.
Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State had also vowed to ensure a thorough investigation of the stampede and prosecution of all individuals responsible for the deadly incident.
