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Ibadan – A shocking tragedy that claimed the lives of 35 children ended with a sigh of relief in an Oyo State High Court. Murder charges against Queen Naomi Silekunola (ex-wife of the Ooni of Ife), radio owner Oriyomi Hamzat, and school principal Abdullahi Fasasi were dismissed. The charges stemmed from a devastating stampede at a children’s event in December 2024.
Justice Prevails: A Controversial Decision
Justice B. K. Olawoyin made a crucial ruling: holding the defendants responsible could have a chilling effect on future charitable work. The court struck down the four-count charge, which included serious accusations like accelerating death, conspiracy, negligence, and failing to provide adequate safety measures.
“It is in the interest of justice to discontinue these cases,” stated Biodun Aikomo, the State Commissioner of Justice and Attorney General. He definitively concluded, “There is no case against them again, they are now free.” The controversial murder charges, which had sparked widespread outrage, are now definitively gone.
