Chief Magistrate, Mrs Olabisi Ogunkanmi has ordered that a former wife of the Ooni of Ife, Olori Naomi Silekunola, the owner of Agidigbo FM, Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat and Principal, Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan be remanded at the Agodi Correctional facility pending an advice for the Director of Public Prosecution of the State Ministry of Justice.
The Chief Magistrate gave the ruling when the trio were arraigned in court yesterday. Mrs Ogunkanmi is presiding over Chief Magistrate Court 1, Iyaganku, Ibadan.
Silekunola, Oriyomi and Fassasi are facing trial on a four-count charge which bothers on conspiracy, acceleration of death, negligent acts causing harm and omitting to provide adequate security and medical facilities.
The case with charge number C/2024 is: Commissioner of Police Versus Naomi Silekunola ‘f’ 31yrs, Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat ‘m’ 51years, and Fasasi Abdulahi Babatunde, ‘m’, 56 years.
Some supporters and fans of Hamzat also stormed the court premises but for heavy security presence at the court which saved the situation from going out of hand.
The supporters who were visibly enraged showed anger as the patrol vans conveying the suspects were leaving the court.
All the suspects were in court in person
Although seven persons were arrested by the police in relation to the incident, with Oriyomi missing on the list, The Nation gathered that the police on Monday released five of the arrested suspects.
Those released included Genesis Christopher, 24; Tanimowo Moruf, 52; Anisolaja Olabode, 42; Idowu Ibrahim, 35 and Abiola Oluwatimilehin, 25.
It was gathered that Oriyomi was arrested on his hospital bed where he was said to be receiving medical attention following his illness, aftermath of the tragedy that led to the death of at least 35 children.
During proceedings yesterday, counsel to the school principal, Waheed Adebowale Olajide, who led Abdulfattai Oyedeji and Rufai J. T raised the issue of jurisdiction, noting that the magistrate court cannot countenance the offence and as such they should not be arraigned in the court.
According to the senior lawyer, the essence of bringing the suspects to court is to be heard and that there is nothing before the court to prove that the suspects have committed the crime.
He urged the court that instead of sending the suspects to the Correctional Centre, they could be kept at a police facility where they could be taken care of and presented in court whenever they were needed.
