The Oyo State government has officially withdrawn the criminal charges filed against Naomi Silekunola, the ex-wife of the Ooni of Ife, Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat, the proprietor of Agidigbo FM, and Abdullahi Fasasi, the Principal of Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan.
The defendants were standing trial for the December 2024 funfair stampede that resulted in the death of 35 children. They had spent nearly a month at Agodi Correctional Centre in Ibadan before being released on bail.
According to Abiodun Aikomo, the Oyo State Attorney General and Commission for Justice, the government’s decision to withdraw the charges was based on compassion and the good conduct of the defendants. Aikomo stated that the defendants had shown empathy and compassion, and that the essence of prosecution is not to persecute them, but to ensure justice.
The withdrawal of the charges brings an end to the trial, and the defendants are now free. The incident had sparked widespread outrage and calls for accountability, but the government’s decision to withdraw the charges has raised questions about the handling of the case.
The funfair, which was organized by Silekunola and Hamzat, had promised enticing gifts and cash handouts, attracting a large crowd that eventually led to the stampede. The incident resulted in the deaths of 35 children, and the defendants were subsequently arrested and charged with conspiracy, murder, manslaughter, and negligence.
