The Oyo State Government has officially withdrawn all charges against Naomi Silekunola, the former wife of the Ooni of Ife; Oriyomi Hamzat, the owner of Agidigbo FM; and Abdullahi Fasasi, the principal of Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan.
The three individuals were initially facing legal action following the tragic funfair stampede that occurred in December 2024, resulting in the deaths of at least 35 children.
The incident, which shook the state, led to public outrage and a thorough investigation into those responsible for organizing the event.
Following the court session on Thursday, the defendants were visibly relieved, exchanging pleasantries as they exited the courtroom—a clear indication that they had been exonerated of any legal culpability in the matter.
Oyo State Attorney General, Abiodun Aikomo, confirmed the decision to drop the charges, explaining that while the tragic event warranted legal scrutiny, the state had decided to discontinue the case based on the circumstances and the responses of those involved.
“It was an unfortunate incident that led to the death of many,” Aikomo stated.
“In legal practice, whenever deaths occur under unnatural circumstances, the law must take its course. This led to the initial filing of charges against those implicated.”
However, he emphasized that the accused individuals had shown deep empathy and compassion toward the victims’ families, which influenced the government’s decision to withdraw the case.
“We initially intended to prosecute, but after evaluating the situation, we saw that the essence of prosecution is not to persecute people, but to seek justice. Given the circumstances, and after consultations with all relevant parties, we deemed it in the interest of justice to discontinue these charges. The case has now been struck out by the court, and the individuals are free.”
The tragic incident took place at a children’s funfair in Ibadan in December 2024, where a massive crowd surge led to a deadly stampede.
Witnesses recounted how an overwhelming number of attendees caused chaos, leading to the crushing deaths of dozens of children.
The incident sparked widespread calls for improved event regulations in the state, particularly concerning safety measures at large gatherings involving minors.
Following the tragedy, authorities launched an investigation into the event’s organizers, leading to the arrests of Silekunola, Hamzat, and Fasasi.
