Justice Kamorudeen Olawoyin of an Ibadan High Court has approved bail for three individuals linked to a tragic food distribution stampede that resulted in the deaths of 35 children in December last year.
The defendants—former Queen Naomi Silekunola, Ibadan broadcaster Oriyomi Hamzat, and school principal Abdullahi Fasasi—are facing charges that include conspiracy, culpable negligence leading to death, acts causing harm, and failure to ensure adequate safety and medical provisions during the event.
Presiding over Court 8, Justice K.B Olawoyin gave the ruling following a bail application filed by the counsel for the trio.
The Judge gave five conditions for the bail, including N10 million and two sureties who must submit landed documents within the court’s jurisdiction.
The court also ruled that his organisation must not broadcast the news.
The defendants argued their bail applications before the court last Tuesday but the court later ruled that the defendants should be remanded in prison till today (Monday) for a ruling on their bail application.
However, the Oyo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Abiodun Aikomo, strongly countered this motion, highlighting the seriousness of the charges and the need to ensure justice for the victims and their families.
Adekunle Shobaloju (SAN), counsel for one of the defendants, Hamzat Oriyomi, said, “Well, what we did was we filed an application that he should be admitted to bail pending arraignment, and the application was argued today.
“The court listened to all the various arguments, and the ruling was reserved till the 13th of January. So principally, we are saying that he ought to be admitted on bail based on certain grounds which I would not want to expatiate on here.”
The defendants were arrested over the ill-fated children’s festive party in December 2024 which claimed the lives of at least 35 children following a stampede at the Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan.
The Oyo State Governor, Seyi Makinde, has insisted that those involved in the stampede must face trial.
He, however, added that he wasn’t against the suspects being granted bail in the case.
