The Oyo State Government has officially withdrawn all charges against Naomi Silekunola, former wife of the Ooni of Ife; Oriyomi Hamzat, owner of Agidigbo FM; and Abdullahi Fasasi, principal of Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan.
The trio had previously faced legal action following the tragic stampede at a children’s event in December 2024, which resulted in the loss of at least 35 young lives. However, in a significant legal turn, the Oyo State Attorney General, Abiodun Aikomo, announced that the state had decided to discontinue the prosecution.
Court Session: Defendants Relieved as Charges Are Dismissed
At the court session held on Thursday, the defendants were seen visibly relieved, exchanging smiles and pleasantries—an indication that the charges had been formally struck out.
Explaining the rationale behind the decision, Attorney General Aikomo stated that while the incident was deeply unfortunate, the legal proceedings had taken into account the show of empathy and responsibility by the accused individuals.
“It was an unfortunate incident that led to the death of many. In law, whenever death occurs under unnatural circumstances, the law must take its course. The state responded by filing charges against those implicated in the investigation.”
He further clarified that although prosecution was initially intended, the state government recognized that the essence of justice is not to persecute individuals but to ensure fairness.
“The affected persons showed empathy and compassion. As much as humanly possible, they tried to make amends with the bereaved families. Given the circumstances, we felt that the essence of prosecution is not to destroy lives but to seek justice.”
“It is in the interest of justice to discontinue these charges, and that is what happened today. We withdrew the charges, and they were struck out by the court. There are no longer any legal proceedings against them.”
The dismissal of charges has sparked mixed reactions from the public, with some commending the state government’s decision to prioritize reconciliation over legal battles, while others have expressed concerns about accountability for the tragic loss of young lives.
The government, however, maintains that justice has been served in a balanced manner, taking into consideration both the law and humanitarian factors.
As the affected families continue to heal from the devastating tragedy, the spotlight now shifts to measures that will prevent similar occurrences in the future, with calls for stricter safety regulations at public events involving children.
