The Oyo state government has withdrawn the criminal case against Oriyomi Hamzat, Naomi Silekunola and Fasasi Abdullahi Fasasi over the fatal stampede at Islamic High School Bashorun in December 2024.
Abiodun Aikomo, commissioner of justice and attorney-general of Oyo, confirmed the development on Wednesday while addressing journalists after the ruling.
The Ibadan high court struck out the case after it was withdrawn by the attorney-general.
Hamzat, CEO of Agidigbo FM; Silekunola, ex-wife of the Ooni of Ife; and Abdullahi, principal of the Islamic High School; were standing trial for their alleged roles in a stampede at a funfair in Ibadan in December, which claimed the lives of over 30 people, most of whom were children.
They were initially remanded at the Agodi correctional facility and were granted bail on January 14 in the sum of N10 million and two sureties in like sum.
In January, the state government filed an 18-count criminal charge, including conspiracy to commit murder, manslaughter, criminal negligence, and other related charges against the trio.
Speaking after the court session, Aikomo said the state decided to withdraw the case as the suspects showed empathy and compassion.
“It was an unfortunate incident that led to the death of many. And you see, in law, whenever death occurs in circumstances that are not natural, the law will take its course. So the state responded by filing charges against the persons implicated in the investigation,” Aikomo said.
“In the course of doing that, we actually wanted to prosecute but the affected persons showed empathy. They showed compassion. And as far as human beings can do, they try to persuade the feelings of the affected parties.
“And the circumstance, we felt, the essence of prosecution is not to kill people or persecute them.
“It is in the interest of justice to discontinue these charges, and that is what happened today. So we withdrew the charge and it was struck out by the court. There is no charge against them again, so they are free.”
Also speaking, Abdulwaheed Olajide, counsel to Fasasi, said the families of the victims and the defendants reached an agreement to settle the matter out of court.
“The good thing is that the defendants as well as the state met and considered wider implication of the case and decided to put a stop to it so that it will not send a wrong signal to the larger society because if the crisis is allowed to persist, you will discover that men of goodwill will be running away from Oyo state. Just to run away from such, the two sides decided to find an amicable solution,” Olajide said.
“They were brought into the picture, they were appealed to and they were made to understand that this is a thing that happened as a result of an accident which can happen anytime.
“It is beyond human control. So they agreed with us… and we said we can still go ahead and show empathy to the families of the deceased.
“The state appreciated that and in consequence decided to withdraw the charges against the defendants.
“We thank God, we all went to the river and we came back with our pots full of water to quench the thirst of each and every one of us.”
