Naomi Silekunola, ex-wife of the Ooni of Ife, Oriyomi Hamzat, CEO of Agidigbo FM, and the Principal of Islamic High School, Abdulahi Fasasi, have been granted bail to the sum of 10 million by the Oyo state high court. The case has subsequently been adjourned till January 27 for final sentencing.
The trio were additionally asked for two sureties in like sum. The three of them are on trial for their supposed involvement in a stampede at a funfair in Ibadan in December. The incident resulted in the deaths of over 30 people, predominantly children.
The defendants have been remanded at Agodi correctional centre since December 24 after being charged with four counts bordering on conspiracy, negligence causing harm, and failing to provide adequate security and medical facilities.
Read also: Ibadan Stampede: Court remands Ooni’s ex-wife, two others
MAGISTRATE COURT HEARING
Iyaganku Sikiru Opaleye, the prosecutor, told Olabisi Ogunkanmi, the chief magistrate, at the resumed hearing of the case at the magistrate court, stated that the state department of public prosecution (DPP) had deemed that the defendants have a case to answer.
The court ruled that an appeal be filed and taken formally at the high court since the magistrate court lacks the jurisdiction to hear the case.
Ogunkanmi explained that if the appeal is heard at the high court, the defendants will appear to have the case struck out at the magistrate court.
She subsequently adjourned the case to January 27 at the behest of Abdulfatai Oyedeji, counsel to Abdullahi (third defendant) for mention.
Oyedeji said at the next hearing, “the three defendants will appear, their appeals will be taken and from there, the battleground will shift to the high court”.
He said if the defendants had been present in court, their appeals may have been taken today.
“They have to be here physically to take their appeal whether guilty or not guilty before we move to the second phase of the battle,” he said.
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