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Ibadan Stampede: Oriyomi Hamzat, Queen Silekunola, Others Must Face Judicial Process, Oyo Governor Insists

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January 6, 2025
NEWS

The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has insisted that those involved in the stampede at the Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan, which claimed the lives of at least 35 children, must face trial.

The stampede had occurred at a charity programme organised in Oyo State.

This is even as the Governor noted that he wasn’t against the suspects being granted bail in the case.

He noted that the case must be heard regardless of the status of those involved.

His comments came as he noted that some persons had argued that similar incidents in Abuja and Anambra did not lead to prosecutions wondering why Oyo State was different.

Makinde shared his thoughts at the 2025 Annual Inter-faith Service for State workers. He addressed calls for leniency, stating that the rule of law would be upheld in Oyo State.

The Governor stated that while there may be no prosecutions elsewhere, the case will be different in Oyo State.

The Governor responded firmly, stating, "Even if nobody is held accountable elsewhere, in Oyo State, the rule of law will prevail."

Makinde said, "In the outgone year, we faced challenges. 2024 started for us here in Oyo State almost on a tragic note. On 16th January 2024, we had an explosion here in Bodija. It affected even my office. The impact was felt all around Ibadan. We're closing it out.

"And then, towards the end of the year, we had the stampede at Islamic High School, Bashorun. 35 innocent souls were lost; may we not see such again in Oyo State.

"Quite a number of people have been reaching out to me, saying, 'Oh, this incident happened in Anambra State. It also occurred in the FCT. Nobody went to jail. Why is it that in Oyo State, some people are going to jail?' I said, 'Well, Oyo State is not Anambra State, and no matter how highly placed, justice must be done.'

"The judiciary is here; it's in their court. If you think you can grant bail pending trial, I have nothing against it. But for the trial, the people must go on trial.

"So, people come to me, and I’ve been saying to them, ‘Oyo State, even if this entire country decides not to follow the rule of law, in Oyo State, we will follow; we will dare to be different. We will uphold the rule of law.'"

It would be recalled that owner of Agidigbo FM, Oriyomi Hamzat, the estranged queen Of the Ooni of Ile-Ife, Naomi Silekunola, have been remanded in custody over their roles in the stampede that killed many and which led to an uproar across the country.

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This is even as the Governor noted that he wasn't against the suspects being granted bail in the case.

Wahala

This life sha oriyomi who host other people's issues, who go con host his own issue like this

Makinde is working at embarrassing himself.

35 kids cannot die without somebody being held accountable ke nitori oloun. Makinde is right on this. We have to teach our peaple hard work and accountability.

OLAADEGBU:
This is even as the governor noted that he wasn’t against the suspects being granted bail in the case.

I wonder why people are complaining. These people actually organized an event that led to the death of innocent Nigerians, they should be trialed, it's the normal thing to do. If the court find them not guilty, then so be it. I wonder why the noise making.

I know it is only in Nigeria we use sentiment and our emotion to cover everything up, no matter the offense committed. We truly, are a very unique and wonderful people.

slimfit1:
Makinde is working at embarrassing himself.

this is the kind of comment I was talking about. How is he embarrassing himself? Because he demand for those people to be held accountable. Tssk.

Foolish talk,if he had done what is right, will the people come out to eat free food.

Ibadan people like free food, but they are lazy; I remember their Proverbs that "Ibadan that not steal, he or she cautious himself or herself." They should face the law against anybody who caused the death of innocent children.

May we not be unfortunate in this life

joseph1832:
this is the kind of comment I was talking about. How is he embarrassing himself? Because he demand for those people to be held accountable. Tssk.

He should be held accountable himself for poor governance.

BREAKING: Ibadan Stampede: Oyo Court Reserves Bail Ruling For Ooni’s Ex-Wife Naomi, Oriyomi Hamzat, School Principal, Adjourns Case

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January 7, 2025
News

The Oyo State High Court in Ibadan has reserved its ruling on the bail applications filed by the ex-wife of the Ooni of Ife, Naomi Silekunola, owner of a prominent indigenous radio station, Agidigbo FM, Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat and the Principal of Islamic High School, Bashorun, Abdullahi Fasasi.

Justice Kamorudeen Babatunde of the Oyo State High Court, on Tuesday, ruled that the court will on Monday, January 13,2025 decide on the bail conditions Oriyomi, Naomi and Fasasi who were remanded in the Agodi correctional center following a deadly stampede that occurred in Ibadan on December 18.

The applications for bail filed by the lawyers representing the defendants were heard at High Court, Court 8, Ring Road, Ibadan.

However, the trial court adjourned the case until January 13, 2025, after hearing arguments from both the prosecution team and the defendants.

SaharaReporters learnt that the trial court is expected to deliver its ruling on the bail applications on the next adjourned date.

“The bail was not denied. The court has not given its ruling. The court only reserved it till next hearing which is January 13, 2025,” a court source told SaharaReporters.

The defendants were arrested over the ill-fated children’s festive party in December 2024 which claimed the lives of at least 35 children following a stampede at the Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan.

A source who witnessed the proceeding told SaharaReporters the prosecution team is being led by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Oyo State Prof. Oyelowo Oyewo (SAN).

The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, had also insisted that those involved in the stampede must face trial.

He, however, added that he wasn’t against the suspects being granted bail in the case.

He noted that the case must be heard regardless of the status of those involved.

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Justice Kamorudeen Babatunde of the Oyo State High Court, on Tuesday, ruled that the court will on Monday, January 13,2025 decide on the bail conditions Oriyomi, Naomi and Fasasi who were remanded in the Agodi correctional center following a deadly stampede that occurred in Ibadan on December 18.

Ibadan Stampede: Holding Charge Used To Detain Hamzat Oriyomi, Naomi, School Principal Is Unknown To Law —Lawyer

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January 7, 2025
News

Adekunle Sobaloju (SAN), counsel for Mr. Hamzat Oriyomi, has argued that the Oyo State Government has no legal justification to detain his client and other defendants arrested over a deadly stampede that occurred at a children's funfair in Ibadan.

Mr Hamzat was arrested along with Ooni of Ife's ex-wife, Naomi Silekunola and Islamic School Principal, Abdullahi Fasasi, over the stampede that occurred at Islamic High School, Bashorun.

At least 35 children were confirmed dead during the tragedy.

Mr. Hamzat and his co-defendants submitted bail applications to the Oyo State High Court on Tuesday. However, after considering arguments from both the prosecution and the defence, the court adjourned the case until January 13, 2025, effectively delaying a decision on their bail requests.

The prosecution was led by the Attorney General of Oyo State, Biodun Aikomo.

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Addressing journalists immediately after court proceedings on Tuesday, in a video obtained by SaharaReporters, Sobaloju said his client, Oriyomi had convincingly pleaded before the court to grant his bail pending proper arraignment.

He said his team also argued strongly before the court that the government has no legal backing to detain his client and others arrested over the deadly stampede.

He said: "Well, what we did was we filed an application that he should be admitted into bail pending arraignment, and the application was argued today. The court listened to all the various arguments, and the ruling was reserved till the 13th of January. So principally we are saying that he ought to be admitted on bail based on certain grounds which I would not want to expatiate on here.

"We are saying by law, they (the defendants) ought not to be arraigned by holding charge. That ordinarily, they should have followed the provision of the law, which is section 292 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), which says that they should not be detained or remanded in custody based on the holding charge.

“We have canvassed the points in court and it is for the court to deliver a considered ruling on it. It is for the court to decide (if their continued detention is legal or illegal). But for us, holding charge is unknown to the law."

The court, on Tuesday, reserved its ruling on the bail applications filed by Naomi, Oriyomi and Fasasi.

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Mr Hamzat was arrested along with Ooni of Ife's ex-wife, Naomi Silekunola and Islamic School Principal, Abdullahi Fasasi, over the stampede that occurred at Islamic High School, Bashorun.