Ibadan Stampede: Court adjourns ex-Queen Naomi, others’ case to March 10  

An Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan on Tuesday adjourned the case involving the Ibadan-based broadcaster, Oriyomi Hamzat; an ex-wife of the Ooni of Ife, Olori Naomi Silekunola; and the Principal of Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan, Abdulahi Fasasi, till March 10, 2025, for further hearing.

Hamzat, Naomi, and Fasasi are facing trial for their alleged involvement in the Ibadan stampede that led to the death of 35 minors at the aborted Ibadan Children Funfair scheduled for Islamic High School, Bashorun. All the defendants were present in court.

It would be recalled that the Oyo State Government had filed a fresh 18-count charge at the High Court after they were released on bail in the case earlier filed at the Magistrate Court, on the grounds that a holding charge is not recognized under the law.

The state slammed the suit on the trio with charge number I/05C/2025: The State Government versus Naomi Silekunola Ogunwusi, Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat, and Abdulahi Babatunde Fasasi.

The suit was filed at the State High Court on Friday, January 10, 2025.

The 18-count charge includes conspiracy to commit a felony to wit: murder, manslaughter, conspiracy to commit an offense to wit: criminal negligence, and criminal negligence.

However, the court on Tuesday adjourned the case for further hearing.

Speaking after the court session, the counsel to Hamzat, Adekunle Sobaloju (SAN), said the court could not proceed with the defendants’ cases because they had not been served with their complaints.

Also, the Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Abiodun Aikomo, said the arraignment of the defendants was stalled because they could not confirm whether their sureties would still support them in the new case.