Oyo Govt Drops Charges Against Ooni’s Ex-Wife, Agidigbo FM Owner, School Principal

The Oyo State government has withdrawn charges against Ooni’s ex-wife, Agidigbo FM owner, and a school principal, sparking reactions from the public.

The Oyo State Government has formally dropped the criminal charges against Naomi Silekunola, former wife of the Ooni of Ife; Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat, proprietor of Agidigbo FM; and Abdullahi Fasasi, principal at Islamic High School in Bashorun, Ibadan.

The charges originated from the tragic stampede that resulted in the deaths of at least 35 children during a festive party in December 2024.

After the trial on Thursday, the defendants seemed relieved and exchanged pleasantries once the court session concluded. State Attorney General Abiodun Aikomo later shared details about this development with the media.

During a live coverage on Facebook, the Attorney General stated: “The incident was tragic and resulted in numerous deaths. According to legal principles, when death occurs under unnatural circumstances, it triggers legal action. Consequently, the state has filed charges against those implicated by the investigation.”

While we originally intended to prosecute, the individuals involved showed empathy and compassion. They did their best to understand and address the feelings of those affected.

“We believed that the essence of prosecution isn’t to harm or persecute individuals. Instead, it’s about serving justice. Therefore, it was in the interest of justice to drop these charges, which is what occurred today.”

This decision follows a rigorous phase of legal proceedings. Previously, the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan had granted bail to Naomi, Hamzat, and Fasasi.

Justice Kamorudeen Olawoyin delivered the ruling following the defendants’ presentations of their bail applications in court.

The court approved a bail of N10 million for Naomi, requiring two sureties. Hamzat and Fasasi were also granted bail under similar conditions.

Additionally, the court mandated that the suspects surrender their passports to its custody and prohibited them from giving interviews, thereby imposing limitations on their public interactions.

The drama surrounding the case started following a tragic stampede at Islamic High School, Bashorun. This incident occurred during a children’s event in December 2024 and resulted in dozens of young children losing their lives amidst the chaotic rush.

The families of the victims, along with the public, were left heartbroken by this horrific incident. It stands as one of the most tragic events in Oyo State’s recent history.

Initially, the prosecution team, headed by Oyo State’s Attorney General, had opposed granting bail to the defendants. They highlighted the severity of the charges and stressed the importance of justice for the victims.

The defense team, on the other hand, requested bail by arguing that the accused had cooperated with the investigation and did not present a flight risk.

Governor Makinde had previously insisted that the individuals responsible for the stampede must be brought to trial; however, he also expressed openness to granting bail to the suspects during the proceedings.