The Oyo State government has filed a fresh lawsuit against former Ooni of Ife’s wife, Olori Prophetess Naomi Silekunola, Ibadan-based radio station owner Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat, and the Principal of Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan, Mr. Abdulahi Fasasi.
The 18-count suit, bearing charge number I/05C/2025, was filed on Friday, 10th January 2025, at the State High Court. The suit names Naomi Silekunola Ogunwusi, Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat, and Fasasi Abdullahi Babatunde as the defendants.
The charges involve conspiracy to commit a felony, including murder, manslaughter, and criminal negligence. The offences are said to be in violation of Section 324 of the Criminal Code, CAP 38, Vol II, Law of Oyo State, 2000.
The charge sheet reveals the names and details of 14 out of the 35 reported victims involved in the incident.
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The names on the charge sheet include: Musiliu Sofiyah, ‘f’, 8 years; Lekan Salami, ‘m’, 7 years; Feyikemi Salam, ‘f’, 1 and a half years; Olaniyan Joshua, ‘m’, 1 and a half years; and Laeef Muisi, ‘m’, 8 years.
Others are: Opeyemi Ayomide, ‘f’, 4 years; Adebayo-Fatimah, ‘f’, 4 years; Adebayo-Abibat, ‘f’, 5 years; Adeyanju Taiwo, ‘f’, 8 years; Salaudeen Khalid, ‘m’, minor; Anjorin Faridat, ‘f’, 10 years; Nahaam Muisi, ‘m’, 13 years; and Babatunde Toheeb, ‘m’, 18 years.
According to the charge, the suspects “conspired together to commit a felony, namely criminal negligence, and thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 517 of the Criminal Code, CAP 38, Vol II, Law of Oyo State, 2000.”
The suit alleges that the suspects “negligently omitted to provide adequate security, crowd control mechanisms, and medical facilities to prevent a stampede at a children’s funfair programme organised by you, and your negligent omission resulted in the death of one Musiliu Sofiat, aged 8 years, and 34 other children, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 308 and punishable under Section 344 of the Criminal Code, CAP 38, Vol II, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.”
Two separate courts in Ibadan are set to hear related matters involving the accused on Monday. While the Oyo State High Court will rule on the bail application of the trio, a Chief Magistrate’s Court will continue proceedings after adjourning last year and ordering the defendants to be kept at the Agodi Correctional Centre.
Olori Naomi, the ex-wife of the Ooni of Ife, runs an NGO called Wings Foundation. Hamzat owns Agidigbo FM, a prominent radio station based in Ibadan, while Fasasi is the Principal of Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan.
