The Oyo State Government has withdrawn criminal charges against Naomi Silekunola, ex-wife of the Ooni of Ife; Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat, owner of Agidigbo FM; and Abdullahi Fasasi, principal of Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan.

The charges stemmed from the tragic December 2024 stampede that claimed at least 35 children’s lives during a festive event.

The defendants, appearing in court on Thursday, were visibly relieved, exchanging pleasantries after the ruling. Oyo State Attorney General, Abiodun Aikomo, later confirmed the withdrawal, stating that while the incident was tragic, the prosecution recognized the defendants’ empathy and efforts to support the victims’ families.

“In law, when unnatural deaths occur, the state must act. However, the goal of prosecution is justice, not persecution.

Given the circumstances, we decided to discontinue the charges,” Aikomo explained in a live broadcast. This decision follows weeks of legal proceedings.

Earlier, the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan had granted bail to the defendants. Justice Kamorudeen Olawoyin set Naomi’s bail at N10 million with two sureties, while Hamzat and Fasasi received similar conditions. The court also ordered them to surrender their passports and barred them from media interviews.

The case began after the fatal stampede at Islamic High School, where a children’s event turned chaotic, resulting in numerous deaths. Families of the victims and the public were left devastated. Initially, the prosecution, led by the Attorney General, opposed bail, citing the gravity of the case.

However, the defence argued that the accused had cooperated fully and posed no flight risk. Governor Seyi Makinde had previously vowed that those responsible would face trial but later expressed openness to granting bail.

With the charges now dropped, the case has reached an unexpected resolution, though the tragedy remains fresh in the minds of many.