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Justice K. B. Olawoyin of the Oyo State High Court in Ibadan expressed disapproval on Monday regarding the imprisonment of Silekunola Naomi, the former wife of the Ooni of Ife, along with her co-defendants.
The judge asserted that Nigerian law does not recognize the concept of a holding charge, which had been applied to detain Naomi, the owner of the Ibadan-based broadcasting station, Oriyomi Hazmat, and the Principal of Islamic High School, Basorun, Abdulahib Fasasi at the Agodi Correctional Centre.
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The three individuals are currently facing criminal charges related to the Christmas funfair they held for children in Ibadan on December 18, which unfortunately resulted in a stampede that claimed the lives of 35 children.
In a decision made on Monday, Justice Olawoyin granted bail to each of the defendants, who had been held since December 24, 2024, in the amount of N10 million each with two sureties providing the same sum.
“The Constitution does not recognize holding charges, and maintaining their custody would violate their rights, particularly since they have not been presented to an appropriate court to address the charges against them,” Justice Olawoyin stated in his decision.
The judge also noted that the unfortunate stampede was not an intentional act, and therefore the defendants were eligible for bail.
He stated that the sureties must be within the jurisdiction and must be prepared to submit the documents to the court’s custody.
The judge additionally prohibited the defendants from traveling abroad by ordering them to submit their passports at the court’s registry. Moreover, the defendants were forbidden from giving press interviews until their trial is concluded.
Hamzat’s attorney, Adekunle Sobaloju (SAN), conveyed optimism to reporters after the court session, believing his client would be granted freedom on Monday.
The bail application submitted on behalf of Hamzat was granted by the court in a thoroughly considered ruling, meaning he has been ordered to be released from prison on bail. We will finalize the bail, God willing, immediately.
The SAN commented on the new murder charges brought by the state government against the accused, stating that his client had not received any official notification.
“We learned about it on social media just like you did, and we have yet to be formally presented with any allegations by the state,” he stated.
In a related matter, the Oyo State Magistrates’ Court in Iyaganku was informed on Monday that the state Directorate of Public Prosecutions had established a case with sufficient evidence against the accused and approved their prosecution.
During the hearing at the magistrates’ court on Monday, the state’s prosecuting counsel, Mr. Sikiru Opaleye, made this announcement.
He also mentioned that the defendants were absent from court because they were concurrently appearing before the state high court.
“The case file has been duplicated,” the prosecutor stated, “and the Directorate of Public Prosecutions has provided its advice, pending the filing of information at the high court. Therefore, we ask the court for an adjournment for mention.”
Chief Magistrate Mrs. Olabisi Ogunkanmi subsequently adjourned the case until January 27.
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