CITIZENS COMPASS –The Oyo State government has initiated a fresh suit against a former queen of the Ooni of Ife, Prophetess Naomi Silekunola, the proprietor of an Ibadan-based radio station, Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat, and the Principal of Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan, Mr. Abdulahi Fasasi.
The 18-count suit with charge number: I/05C/2025 is: the State government versus Naomi Silekunola Ogunwusi, Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat and Fasasi Abdullahi Babatunde.
The suit was filed at the State High Court on Friday, 10th January 2025.
The 18-count charges relate to: conspiracy to commit a felony, namely murder; manslaughter; conspiracy to commit an offence, criminal negligence; and criminal negligence.
The offences are said to be contrary to and punishable under section 324 of the Criminal Code, CAP 38, Vol II Law of Oyo State, 2000.
In the charge sheet, the prosecution revealed the names and details of 14 of the reported 35 victims of the incident.
The names on the charge sheet include: Musiliu Sofiyah, ‘f’, 8 years; Lekan Salami, ‘m’, 7 years; Feyikemi Salam, ‘f’, 1 and a half years; Olaniyan Joshua, ‘m’, 1 and a half years; and Laeef Muisi, ‘m’, 8 years.
Others are: Opeyemi Ayomide, ‘f’, 4 years; Adebayo-Fatimah, ‘f’, 4 years; Adebayo-Abibat, ‘f’, 5 years; Adeyanju Taiwo, ‘f’, 8 years; Salaudeen Khalid, ‘m’, minor; Anjorin Faridat, ‘f’, 10 years; Nahaam Muisi, ‘m’, 13 years; and Babatunde Toheeb, ‘m’, 18 years.
The charge also stated that the suspects “did conspire together to commit a felony, namely criminal negligence, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under section 517 of the Criminal Code, CAP 38, Vol II, Law of Oyo State, 2000.
“Did negligently omit to provide adequate security, crowd control mechanisms, and medical facilities to prevent a stampede at a children’s funfair programme organised by you, and your negligent omission resulted in the death of one Musiliu Sofiat, ‘f’, 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.”
Two different courts in Ibadan will also be hearing matters related to the trio on Monday.
While an Oyo State High Court will be ruling on the bail application of the trio before it, a Chief Magistrate’s Court will be hearing the case after it adjourned last year and ordered the trio to be kept at the Agodi Correctional Centre.
