An Oyo State High Court in Ibadan has granted N10 million bail each to ex-Queen Naomi Silekunola and two others over the December 18, 2024 stampede at the Islamic High School Orita Basorun, Ibadan, which claimed 35 lives.
Also granted bail are the School Principal, Abdullah Fasasi and the owner of Agidigbo FM, Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat.
Former Queen Naomi Silekunola and two others were arraigned on December 24, 2024, at the Magistrates’ Court on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, murder, and negligent acts causing harm.
The defendants had been remanded at Agodi Correctional Centre since December 24, 2024, pending advice from Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP).
Delivering the ruling on Monday on their bail application filed at the Oyo State High Court, Justice Kamorudeen Olawuyin said the Magistrate Court was not competent to try the defendants due to the murder charge contained in the charge.
The judge said that there was no place for holding charges in the constitution and keeping them in custody would amount to an infringement on their rights without taking them to the right court that could entertain the charges against them.
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The judge said the incident of the stampede was not a premeditated act, and so the defendants are entitled to bail.
Justice Olawuyin, therefore, granted bail to the defendants in the sum of N1O million, each with two prominent and reliable sureties in like sum.
The judge further said that the defendants must deposit their international passports and must not grant any press interview in print or on social media in the course of the trial.
Meanwhile, the matter was again adjourned to January 27.
(Editor: Okechukwu Eze)
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