As controversy continues to rage on the Ibadan funfair stampede, a High Court sitting in Ibadan has adjourned the ruling on a bail application for the suspects involved in the tragic incident that claimed the lives of 35 minors in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
Justice Kamorudeen Olawoyin, who made the pronouncement after hearing from the counsels for the three suspects, adjourned the ruling on their bail applications till Tuesday, January 13, 2025.
The counsels for the three suspects, Naomi Silekunola, Oriyomi Hamzat and the principal of the school Abdullahi Fasasi had filed an application seeking to bail the suspects.
The accused were arraigned by a magistrate court sitting in Iyaganku on four counts of conspiracy, acceleration of death, negligent acts causing harm, and failure to provide adequate security and medical facilities.
The cases were argued separately by the counsels in a proceeding that lasted more than five hours.
In their respective arguments, the counsels told the court why the suspects should be allowed to enjoy their freedom, noting that there was no sufficient evidence before the court to warrant their confinement to a correctional facility.
However, the Oyo State Government, who had earlier filed a counter application, opposed the bail applications of the suspects.
The Attorney General and Commissioner of Justice, Abiodun Aikomo, who led top officials from the Ministry of Justice to represent the state government opposed the bail applications stating reasons why the request should not be granted.
The suspects are currently being remanded at the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Agodi.
The funfair where the tragic stampede was recorded was organised by Silekunola, a former queen to the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi. Days after the tragedy in Ibadan, about 35 deaths were also recorded at two stampedes in Anambra and Abuja during food distribution.
