A High Court sitting in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, has rejected the bail application brought before it by Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi’s former wife, Naomi, and others remanded over the stampede that resulted in the death of over 30 children during a funfair organized to assist families celebrate the 2024 Yuletide season in the state.
Others seeking bail, whose applications were not granted by the court, were the owner of a prominent indigenous radio station, Agidigbo FM, Oriyomi Hamzat, and the Principal of Islamic High School, Bashorun, Abdullahi Fasasi.
Rather than grant the bail application by the defendants, the court adjourned the proceedings after the Oyo State Government counsel kicked against Naomi, Hamzat, and others’ requests brought before Justice Kamorudeen Olawoyin.
On Tuesday during the proceedings, Justice Olawoyin ruled that the court will on Monday, January 13, 2025, decide on the bail applications brought before it by the defendants.
They were remanded in the Agodi correctional center following a deadly stampede that occurred in Ibadan on December 18, which has attracted global attention.
As gathered, the trial court is expected to deliver a ruling on the bail applications on the next adjourned date.
During the court ruling on Tuesday, the defence team made a case for bail, arguing that the accused didn’t pose a flight risk and were willing to cooperate with the investigation.
However, the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Oyo State, Abiodun Aikomo, strongly countered this motion, highlighting the seriousness of the charges and the need to ensure justice for the victims and their families.
A counsel, Adekunle Shobaloju, who is representing, Hamzat Oriyomi, said, “Well, what we did was we filed an application that he should be admitted to bail pending arraignment, and the application was argued today.
“The court listened to all the various arguments, and the ruling was reserved till the 13th of January. So principally, we are saying that he ought to be admitted on bail based on certain grounds which I would not want to expatiate on here.”
The defendants were arrested over the ill-fated children’s festive party in December 2024 which claimed the lives of at least 35 children following a stampede at the Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan.
