The Oyo State High Court in Ibadan has denied bail applications filed by Naomi Silekunola, the estranged wife of the Ooni of Ife, and Abdullahi Fasasi, the Principal of Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan. The duo faces serious charges linked to the tragic stampede at a children’s festive party in December 2024, which claimed the lives of at least 35 children.
Presiding over the case in Court 8 at the Ring Road High Court, Justice Olawoyin adjourned proceedings concerning Naomi Silekunola until next week. This decision followed a request by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Oyo State, Prof. Oyelowo Oyewo (SAN), who sought additional time to conclude the ongoing investigations into the incident.
A source within the court revealed that the bail applications were denied to allow the prosecution sufficient time to deepen their inquiries. “The Attorney General argued that more time was needed to finalize investigations into the roles of the accused individuals in the tragedy,” the source disclosed.
In addition to Silekunola and Fasasi, the proprietor of Agidigbo FM, Oriyomi Hamzat, is also under investigation for his alleged involvement in the circumstances leading to the disaster. The court is expected to rule on Hamzat’s bail application shortly.
The ill-fated festive party, hosted at Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan, turned into a catastrophic event when overcrowding and apparent mismanagement led to a deadly stampede.
The prosecution, led by Prof. Oyewo, has emphasized the need to establish culpability and accountability to provide justice for the victims.
Tuesday’s hearing, conducted under heavy security, underscores the gravity of the case, which has drawn widespread public attention. As investigations continue, the tragedy serves as a somber reminder of the critical need for safety and crowd control measures at public events.
The court will reconvene next week to deliberate further on the cases, while families of the victims continue to demand answers and justice for the lives lost.
