Almost one-month after the stampede at the Principal of Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan, the Oyo State government has slammed murder charges against the former queen of the Ooni of Ife, Naomi Silekunola.
Silekunola was charged alongside Oriyomi Hamzat, the proprietor of an Ibadan-based radio state, the principal of the school, Abdullahi Fasasi among others for their alleged involvement in the December 18, 2024, stampede that led to the death of 35 children.
In the suit registered as I/05C/2025 and filed on Friday, January 10, the Oyo state government was listed as the complainant, while the Ooni’s former queen and other individuals were named as the defendants.
The state government’s 18-count charge accused the defendants of “conspiracy to commit a felony to wit: murder, manslaughter, conspiracy to commit an offense to wit: criminal negligence, and criminal negligence.”
The offences allegedly committed by the defendants, the state government informed the court are punishable under Section 324 of the Criminal Code, CAP 38, Vol II, Laws of Oyo State, 2000.