The Oyo State Government, on Tuesday, urged the state High Court in Ibadan to deny bail to the former queen of the Ooni of Ife, Naomi Shilekunola, Hamzat Oriyomi, and school principal, Fasasi Abdullahi.
On December 24, the court had ordered the trio’s remand in prison following a deadly stampede at a Christmas Funfair they organized in Ibadan, which claimed the lives of 35 children. As a result, the defendants spent both Christmas and New Year’s Day in custody at the Nigerian Correctional Services facility in Agodi.
During the hearing at High Court 8, Ring Road, Ibadan, on Tuesday, the defence counsel appealed to the court for bail, but Oyo State Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Abiodun Aikomo, opposed the request. Aikomo argued that the applicants had not provided sufficient grounds for their release.
“The bail request of the applicants must not be granted by the court,” Aikomo stated. He further rejected claims of persecution by the state government, describing them as baseless.
Earlier, the defence counsel argued that the detention of their clients was unconstitutional, citing procedural irregularities and questioning the court’s jurisdiction. They also challenged the “holding charge” used to remand the suspects, arguing that it was not recognized under Nigeria’s Administration of Criminal Justice Act.
Waheed Olajide, representing Fasasi Abdullahi, principal of Islamic High School in Basorun, contended that the detention was unjustified. “No formal charge has been preferred against the applicant before any court of competent jurisdiction,” Olajide stated.
Olajide also highlighted Abdullahi’s deteriorating health, urging for bail on medical grounds: “The law provides for exceptional circumstances, such as ill-health, for the release of suspects on bail. The applicant is battling with his health and requires medical attention.”
Silekunola’s lawyer, Musibau Adetunmbi (SAN), described her continued detention as unconstitutional. “Anyone can be detained, but it must be by the law, regardless of the offence committed,” he argued. “The applicants are being held based on a holding charge, which is not recognized in the criminal administration of justice. The Oyo State Government is acting illegally by continuing to detain the suspects in prison.”
Similarly, Hazmat Oriyomi’s lawyer, Adekunle Sobaloju (SAN), argued that the detention violated constitutional provisions. “The holding charge used to detain the suspects in prison custody is not known in the criminal administration of justice,” Sobaloju stated.
After hearing submissions from both sides, Justice K.B. Olawoyin adjourned the ruling on the bail applications until Monday, January 13, 2025.
