An Oyo State High Court in Ibadan has granted bail to Naomi Silekunola, the former wife of the Ooni of Ife, along with two other individuals, who are facing charges of murder and manslaughter. Each defendant has been granted a N10 million bail.
The court also approved bail for Oriyomi Hamzat, a broadcaster and CEO of Agidigbo Radio FM in Ibadan, and Abdullahi Fasasi, the principal of Islamic High School.
The three individuals are being prosecuted for their alleged involvement in the deaths of 35 children, who lost their lives in a stampede during a Christmas funfair event held on December 18, 2024, at Islamic High School, Orita Basorun, Ibadan.
It should be noted that the defendants were arraigned on December 24, 2024, before the Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court on a four-count charge related to conspiracy, murder, manslaughter, and negligence.
READ ALSO: Ibadan stampede: Court remands Ooni’s ex-queen, Oriyomi, in prison
The defendants were remanded in custody at Agodi Correctional Centre following their arraignment.
Subsequently, the defense counsel filed bail applications on behalf of the defendants at the state High Court.
In delivering his ruling on the bail application on Monday, Justice Kamorudeen Olawoyin granted bail to the ex-queen and her co-defendants in the amount of N10 million each, with two reliable sureties.
Justice Olawoyin ruled that the Magistrates’ Court lacked the jurisdiction to handle the case due to the inclusion of a murder charge in the charge sheet.
He further emphasized that there is no provision for a holding charge in the constitution, and continuing to detain the defendants would violate their rights.
The judge noted that the stampede incident was not a premeditated action, and as such, the defendants were entitled to bail.
The judge also ordered that the defendants must surrender their international passports to the court and be prohibited from granting any press interviews, either in print or on social media, during the course of the trial.
Crediblenewsng.com
