In a dramatic turn of events, the Oyo State Government has officially withdrawn all charges against Naomi Silekunola, the former wife of the Ooni of Ife, along with Agidigbo FM founder, Oriyomi Hamzat, and Abdullahi Fasasi, principal of Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan.
The trio had been entangled in legal proceedings following the tragic December 2024 funfair stampede in Ibadan, which claimed the lives of at least 35 children. However, during a court session on Thursday, the charges were formally struck out, leading to visible relief among the defendants, who were seen exchanging pleasantries after the ruling.
Speaking to journalists, Oyo State Attorney General, Abiodun Aikomo, shed light on the rationale behind the state’s decision.
“It was a deeply unfortunate incident that resulted in loss of lives. Legally, whenever deaths occur under unnatural circumstances, the law must intervene. The state took action based on the findings of the investigation,” Aikomo explained.
However, he noted that the accused individuals demonstrated genuine empathy and compassion for the victims’ families, which played a key role in the government’s reconsideration.
“The goal of prosecution is not persecution. In this case, after evaluating the circumstances, we believed that justice would be better served by discontinuing the charges,” he added.
With the court’s dismissal, all charges have been lifted, leaving the accused individuals free from legal entanglements related to the tragic incident.
