A OYO STATE High Court in Ring Road, Ibadan, has granted bail to Olori Naomi Silekunola, popular broadcaster Oriyomi Hazmat, and school principal Abdulahi Fasasi.
The ruling was delivered on Monday by Justice K.B. Olawoyin of Court 8, following a bail application argued by the defendants’ counsels on January 7.
Justice Olawoyin set the bail conditions at ₦10 million each, requiring two sureties per defendant. The sureties are to present landed property documents within the court’s jurisdiction, while the defendants must surrender their international passports and refrain from granting interviews until the case is concluded.
The Explainer noted that the trio had been remanded at the Agodi Correctional Centre since Christmas Eve. This followed an earlier ruling by Chief Magistrate Olabisi Ogunkanmi of the Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court, which declined jurisdiction to hear the case.
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The defendants are facing 18 criminal charges filed by the Oyo State Government over a tragic stampede at the Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan. The incident occurred during a Christmas funfair on December 18, 2024, organised by WINGS (Women In Need of Guidance and Support), a foundation established by Olori Naomi, in collaboration with Agidigbo 88.7 FM, owned by Oriyomi Hazmat.
The Oyo State Police Command confirmed that the stampede claimed the lives of 35 minors, aged five months to 13 years, while six others were critically injured.
Prosecutors allege that the defendants failed to provide adequate security, crowd control, and medical facilities for the event, thereby contributing to the tragedy.
According to PUNCH, the charge sheet shows the offences include conspiracy to commit murder, manslaughter, and criminal negligence, punishable under Sections 308 and 344 of the Criminal Code, CAP 38, Vol 11, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
The Explainer reported that the ill-fated funfair was meant to bring joy to children but ended in chaos. The crowd surged uncontrollably, leading to the deadly stampede.
Police Inspector Sikiru Opaleye, the prosecuting counsel, told the court that the defendants’ alleged negligence accelerated the disaster.
“They invited children for a funfair but failed to provide a conducive atmosphere with adequate security and medical facilities,” he said.
