Oyo government files murder charges against OONI’s ex-wife and 2 others over Ibadan stampede

Monday, January 13, 2025 - The Oyo State government has initiated a fresh suit against a former wife of the Ooni of Ife, Olori 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 was filed at the State High Court on Friday, 10th January 2025. 

The Oyo State Government was listed as the complainant while Silekunola, Hamzat and and Babatunde were named as defendants. 

The 18-count charges relate to: conspiracy to commit a felony, namely murd£r; m@nslaughter; 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 listed the names and details of 14 out of the reported 35 victims of the stampede. 

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 states 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 st@mpede at a children’s funfair programme organised by you, and your negligent omission resulted in the de@th of one

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, Jan. 13. 
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 defendants to be kept at the Agodi Correctional Centre. 

Justice K. B Olawoyin, presiding over Court 8, Oyo State High Court, Ring Road, Ibadan, also fixed Monday, 13th January 2025, to deliver his ruling on the bail application filed by Olori Naomi Silekunola, Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat and Abdulahi Fasasi.