In a dramatic legal turn, the Oyo State Government has withdrawn all criminal charges against media mogul Oriyomi Hamzat, former queen Naomi Silekunola, and school principal Abdullahi Fasasi.
Recall that the trio had been embroiled in a high-profile case following the tragic stampede at the Islamic High School, Bashorun, in December 2024, a catastrophe that claimed over 30 lives, predominantly children.
Oyo State’s Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Abiodun Aikomo, made the stunning announcement on the 20th of March, 2025, after an Ibadan High Court officially struck out the case.
Addressing journalists, Aikomo explained that while the law demands accountability in unnatural deaths, the government reconsidered the prosecution after the defendants exhibited deep remorse and compassion.
From Charges to Compassion
Initially, Hamzat, CEO of Agidigbo FM; Silekunola, ex-wife of the Ooni of Ife; and Fasasi, the school’s principal, faced an 18-count criminal indictment, including conspiracy to commit murder, manslaughter, and criminal negligence.
The weight of the accusations landed them in Agodi Correctional Facility, though they secured bail on the 14th of January,2025, each posting ₦10 million with two sureties in the same sum.
However, a shift occurred when discussions between the defendants and the bereaved families paved the way for reconciliation.
Aikomo emphasized that prosecution is not meant to destroy lives but to seek justice in a broader sense. Given the defendant’s willingness to acknowledge the pain of the victims’ families and extend gestures of goodwill, the government decided that further litigation was unnecessary.
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“In law, when death occurs in unnatural circumstances, the legal system is bound to react. The state did just that by filing charges after thorough investigations. However, we witnessed genuine compassion from the defendants an effort to console and support the affected families. At this juncture, we believe justice is better served through understanding rather than prolonged prosecution,” Aikomo stated.
A Settlement Beyond the Courts
Fasasi’s legal counsel, Abdulwaheed Olajide, also weighed in, revealing that both parties the victims’ families and the defendants found common ground outside the courtroom.
He highlighted that dragging the case further could have unintended social consequences for Oyo State, potentially deterring well-meaning individuals from engaging in public initiatives.
“The reality is that this was a tragic accident, one beyond human control. Instead of fueling tension, all parties agreed to an amicable resolution. The defendants demonstrated a willingness to support the bereaved families, which the state recognized and respected. This decision is a victory for peace and unity,” Olajide remarked.
Expressing gratitude for the resolution, he poetically concluded, “We all went to the river and returned with our pots full of water to quench the thirst of every one of us.”
With the charges formally dismissed, Hamzat, Silekunola, and Fasasi walk free, bringing an emotional and legal closure to a case that once sent shockwaves through the state.