By Okeke Eunice
The Oyo State Government has brought eight charges related to murder and manslaughter against Naomi Silekunola, the former queen of the Ooni of Ife; Oriyomi Hamzat, the owner of an Ibadan-based radio station; and Abdulahi Fasasi, the principal of Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan. The charges stem from a stampede at a funfair on December 18, 2024, which resulted in the deaths of 35 children.
The case, labeled I/05C/2025, was filed on Friday, January 10, 2025, at the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan, as confirmed by a charge sheet obtained on Sunday.
The Oyo State Government is listed as the complainant, with Silekunola, Hamzat, and Fasasi named as defendants. The 18 charges include allegations of conspiracy to commit murder, manslaughter, and criminal negligence, as well as conspiracy to engage in criminal negligence.
The offenses are reportedly in violation of and punishable under Section 324 of the Criminal Code, CAP 38, Volume II, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
According to the charge sheet obtained by a national television, the prosecution revealed the names and details of 14 of the 35 children who lost their lives in the incident.
The victims listed include Musiliu Sofiat, an eight-year-old girl; Lekan Salami, a seven-year-old boy; Feyikemi Salam, a 1.5-year-old girl; Olaniyan Joshua, a 1.5-year-old boy; Laeef Muisi, an eight-year-old boy; Opeyemi Ayomide, a four-year-old girl; Adebayo-Fatimah, a four-year-old girl; Adebayo-Abibat, a five-year-old girl; Adeyanju Taiwo, an eight-year-old girl; Salaudeen Khalid, a minor boy; Anjorin Faridat, a 10-year-old girl; Nahaam Muisi, a 13-year-old boy; and Babatunde Toheeb, an 18-year-old boy.
The state accused the defendants of “failing to provide sufficient security, crowd control measures, and medical facilities to prevent a stampede during a children’s funfair event they organized.”
It claimed that this negligence led to the death of Musiliu Sofiat, an 8-year-old girl, along with 34 other children, constituting an offense under Section 308 and punishable by Section 344 of the Criminal Code, CAP 38, Volume II, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.
Fasasi is facing trial on four counts, including conspiracy, causing death, negligent actions leading to harm, and failure to ensure adequate security and medical provisions.
Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, stated last week that the state would pursue legal action against the defendants.
The accused have been held in prison custody since December 24 after being arrested by the police.