Justice K.B. Olawoyin of Court 8, Oyo State High Court, Ring Road, Ibadan, has reserved ruling on the bail application filed by Ooni of Ife’s ex-queen, Naomi Silekunola; Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat, proprietor of Agidigbo FM; and Abdulahi Fasasi, Principal of Islamic High School, Bashorun.
The ruling is scheduled for Tuesday, January 13.
The trio is facing trial over a tragic stampede at a Christmas funfair held at Islamic High School, Bashorun, in December 2024, which resulted in the death of at least 35 children.
During the hearing on Tuesday, counsel for the suspects presented separate applications for bail.
The defense lawyers, including Musibau Adetunmbi (SAN) for Ex-Queen Naomi, Adekunle Sobaloju (SAN) for Hamzat, and Waheed Olajide for Fasasi, argued that their clients should be granted bail, citing insufficient evidence to justify their continued detention.
The state prosecution, led by the Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Abiodun Aikomo, opposed the bail applications, presenting a counter-application.
Aikomo argued that granting bail at this stage could jeopardize the trial.
Justice Olawoyin, after over five hours of submissions, adjourned the case for ruling.
The suspects are currently held at the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Agodi, Ibadan.
The court proceedings attracted widespread attention, with families of the victims and public sympathizers present to witness the session.
The tragic incident has sparked public outrage, with calls for justice growing louder.
Governor Seyi Makinde has assured citizens that the government will ensure accountability for the victims. Prominent voices, including Peter Obi, have condemned the systemic failures that led to the stampede.
As the January 13 ruling approaches, the case continues to shed light on safety standards at public events and the need for improved crowd management to prevent such tragedies in the future.