A high court in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, has granted bail to the ex-wife of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Naomi Silekunola.
Naija News learnt that Naomi was granted bail alongside the Ibadan-based broadcaster, Oriyomi Hamzat and a school principal, Abdullahi Fasasi.
The accused are facing four counts of conspiracy, acceleration of death, negligent acts causing harm, and failure to provide adequate security and medical facilities during a Christmas funfair that claimed the lives of 35 minors in Ibadan last December.
Justice Kamorudeen Olawoyin on Monday granted bail to the three suspects remanded over the tragic stampede.
Recall that the Oyo State Government had filed an 18-count charge, including manslaughter, against Naomi Silekunola, Oriyomi Hamzat, and Fasasi Abdullahi following the tragic stampede at a Christmas Funfair in Ibadan that claimed the lives of 35 children.
According to a source within the government, the charges were filed in connection with the deadly incident.
At the Oyo State High Court on January 7, the defence team argued passionately for the release of the defendants on bail. They cited their cooperation with investigations and the fact that they posed no flight risk.
The defence lawyers also questioned the constitutionality of the defendants’ detention, describing it as a procedural irregularity.
They challenged the “holding charge” under which the accused were remanded, stating that it lacked recognition under the Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
The Oyo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Abiodun Aikomo, led the prosecution team, opposing the bail applications.
Aikomo insisted that the accused had not provided sufficient justification for their release and dismissed claims of persecution by the state government as baseless.