An Oyo State High Court, sitting at Ring Road, granted bail on Monday to Naomi Silekunola, the former queen of the Ooni of Ife, along with broadcaster and CEO of Agidigbo Radio FM, Ibadan, Oriyomi Hamzat, and Abdulahi Fasasi, the Principal of Islamic High School.
The ruling was issued by Justice K.B. Olawoyin in Court 8 after the trio’s counsel filed a bail application. The judge set five conditions for their release, including a bail sum of N10 million and the submission of two sureties who must provide landed property documents within the court’s jurisdiction.
Other conditions stipulated by the judge include the deposit of their international passports with the court and a restriction barring the defendants from granting interviews during the course of the case.
The defendants had been in prison custody since December 24, following their arrest by the police. They face eight charges filed by the Oyo State Government, including murder and manslaughter, in relation to the tragic stampede at a December 18, 2024 funfair that resulted in the deaths of 35 children.
The government’s charges also include conspiracy to commit a felony, manslaughter, criminal negligence, and conspiracy to commit an offense related to criminal negligence.
Speaking to journalists, Oriyomi Hamzat’s counsel, Adekunle Sobaloju, confirmed that the court had agreed to the bail application.
“We filed an application requesting that he be granted bail pending arraignment, and the application was heard today,” Sobaloju said. “The court considered the various arguments, and the ruling was reserved until January 13. In essence, we believe he should be granted bail on certain grounds, though I will not go into further detail here.”
