The Oyo State Government has officially withdrawn all charges against Naomi Silekunola, the former wife of the Ooni of Ife; Oriyomi Hamzat, the founder and CEO of Agidigbo FM; and Abdullahi Fasasi, the principal of Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan.
The individuals were initially facing legal proceedings in connection with the tragic funfair stampede that occurred in December 2024, which claimed the lives of at least 35 children.
During a court session on Thursday, the defendants, now free of all legal burdens, were seen engaging in friendly exchanges, signaling that the charges had been formally dismissed.
Speaking on the development, Oyo State Attorney General, Abiodun Aikomo, provided insights into the government’s decision to discontinue the case. He explained that while the law necessitates legal action when deaths occur under unnatural circumstances, the state government took into account the humanitarian aspects of the situation.
“It was an unfortunate incident that led to the loss of many innocent lives. Legally, whenever death occurs under unnatural circumstances, the law must take its course. That is why the state initially filed charges against those implicated in the investigation,” Aikomo stated.
However, he noted that during the legal process, the defendants demonstrated genuine empathy and compassion towards the victims’ families. He emphasized that the goal of prosecution is not to punish individuals for the sake of it but to serve justice fairly.
“In the course of the case, we observed that the affected individuals showed deep remorse and concern for the victims’ families. They took steps to express their sympathy and tried to ease the pain of those who suffered losses. Justice is not solely about punishment—it must also consider fairness and humanity,” he added.
Based on these considerations, the Oyo State Government decided it would not be in the best interest of justice to continue the prosecution. Consequently, the charges were officially withdrawn and struck out by the court.
“With this decision, there are no legal charges against them anymore. They are now free,” Aikomo concluded.
