Kehinde Fajobi
Mrs. Funmilayo Ogunseyi, mother of Naomi Silekunola, a former wife of the Ooni of Ife, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu and concerned Nigerians to intervene in her daughter’s legal troubles following a tragic stampede at a funfair in Ibadan.
Silekunola, alongside two others, is facing charges of conspiracy, negligence causing harm, and failure to provide adequate security and medical facilities after the incident, which claimed the lives of 35 children.
The Iyaganku Magistrate Court has ordered their remand in prison.
In a tearful video shared online, Ogunseyi pleaded for leniency, asserting her daughter’s good intentions.
“Have mercy on me. Mothers have mercy. Come to my rescue. Don’t let my life be destroyed. My child only came to Ibadan to help the needy; this was not her first time.
“We have travelled across the country helping children and the vulnerable. I sympathise with the families who lost their children; it was never our intention.
“Please, don’t let Naomi be imprisoned—she is innocent. She only came to show compassion,” she said.
She recounted that her daughter had organised charitable events for over a decade to support vulnerable groups across Nigeria.
Ogunseyi said the tragedy occurred when crowds gathered prematurely before the event’s scheduled time of 10 a.m.
“The stampede began around 6:30 a.m., long before Naomi arrived at the venue. I received a call about the chaos while still asleep. My phone number was on the event flyer, so I was contacted.
“Naomi, her elder brother, and I immediately went to the police station to report the incident, but she was detained and later charged with murder,” Ogunseyi explained.
Ogunseyi also revealed that her daughter, reportedly in poor health, fainted during police interrogation and remains in custody.
Breaking down, she appealed to President Tinubu and others to intervene, claiming her daughter’s ordeal was orchestrated by “powerful persons.”
She said, “They have taken my child to prison. The court was full of policemen. They say her ordeal is an ‘order from above.’ Please, I beg those in power to release her.
“She is not a killer; she came to help. Naomi is fragile and sick. President Tinubu, I beg you, come to our aid.”
Ogunseyi also sympathised with the families of the deceased children, stating that the tragedy was unintended.