Barely four months after, the Oyo State Government has officially dropped all charges against Queen Naomi Silekunola, ex-wife of the Ooni of Ife, Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat, owner of Agidigbo FM, and Abdullahi Fasasi, the Principal of Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan.
These charges stemmed from a devastating stampede in December 2024, which occurred during a children’s festive party and tragically claimed the lives of at least 35 children.
According to Oyo State Attorney General, Abiodun Aikomo, the decision to discontinue the case was influenced by the defendants’ display of empathy and compassion towards the victims’ families.
Aikomo told newsmen after the court session on Thursday that the primary goal of prosecution is to serve justice, not to persecute individuals.
Prior to the charges being dropped, the defendants had been granted bail by the Oyo State High Court, with each required to provide a ₦10 million bail bond and two sureties.
The court also ordered them to surrender their passports and refrain from making public statements about the case.
The defendants were visibly relieved, smiling and exchanging pleasantries after the trial on Thursday, signalling their release from the charges.
During a live broadcast on Facebook, Aikomo had said: “It was an unfortunate incident that led to the death of many. And you see, in law, whenever death occurs and the circumstances are not natural, the law will take its course. So the state responded by filing charges against the persons implicated in the investigation.
“In the course of doing that, we actually wanted to prosecute but the affected persons showed empathy. They showed compassion. And as far as human beings can do, they try to persuade the feelings of the affected parties.
“And the circumstance, we felt, the essence of prosecution is not to kill people or persecute them. It is in the interest of justice to discontinue these charges, and that is what happened today.”
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