The Oyo State High Court has granted a former wife of Ooni of Ife, Naomi Silekunola, and two others, being prosecuted for murder and manslaughter, N10 million bail each.
Also granted bail are Oriyomi Hamzat, a broadcaster and CEO of Agidigbo Radio FM, Ibadan, and Abdullahi Fasasi, the principal of Islamic High School.
The three defendants are being prosecuted for the deaths of 35 children during a stampede at a Christmas funfair programme on December 18, 2024, at Islamic High School, Orita Basorun, Ibadan.
The defendants were, on December 24, 2024, arraigned before the Iyaganku Magistrates’ Court on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, murder, manslaughter and negligence.
The defendants were subsequently remanded at the Agodi Correctional Centre.
Counsel to the defendants subsequently filed applications for bail at the state High Court.
Delivery ruling on the bail application on Monday, Justice Kamorudeen Olawoyin admitted the ex-queen and her co-defendants to N10 million bail each, with two reliable sureties.
Mr Olawoyin said the magistrate court lacked jurisdiction to hear the case due to the murder charge contained in the charge sheet.
He said there was no place for holding charges in the constitution, and keeping them in custody would amount to an infringement of their rights.
The judge said the stampede was not a premeditated act, so the defendants were entitled to bail.
The judge directed that the defendants submit their international passports to the court and not grant any press interview on print or social media during the trial.
