A Chief Magistrate Court in Ibadan, Oyo State capital, on Monday, adjourned the case of former Queen of the Ooni of Ife, Naomi Sikekunola; the Chairman of an Ibadan-based broadcasting station, Alhaji Oriyomi Hamzat and the principal of Islamic High School, Basorun, Abdulahib Fasasi over involvement in Ibadan stampede till March 24, 2025.
The three defendants appeared before the Chief Magistrate Court, Ibadan on Monday, two weeks after they were released on bail by the Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan.
They were previously held on holding charge by the same court and subsequently remanded at Nigerian Correctional Centre, Agodi, Ibadan.
The grant of their bail application request was sequel to the argument of their various counsels that holding charge is neither known nor recognized in the face of law.
On Monday, the case was slated for mention but the Chief Magistrate adjourned it till March 24, 2025.
In a sideline interview, Barrister Dapo Akinosi, who is the counsel to Oriyomi Hazmat, one of the defendants, said, “The matter today was actually slated for mention because when they were arraigned then it was for Holden charge which is not known to our law.
“Then, they were remanded in prison as a result of the Holden charge that was filed initially against them (defendants)
“We have applied to the High Court where the bail was granted to the defendants.
“Consequently, the legal advice is out. The information has been filed against them (the defendants), but they are yet to be served with the information that has been filed against them.
“Normally, we have come to the Court today so that the charge against them here will be withdrawn since they have not been charged and their plea has not been taken at the High Court.
“That is why we prayed for a longer date within which the proper thing, training them, and taking their plea at the High Court will be done before they will come back to the Chief Magistrate Court and the charge against them will be withdrawn.
Tribune Online recalls that the trio were charged to Court by the Oyo State Government on a four-count charge bordering conspiracy, murder, manslaughter and negligence for the deaths of 35 children during a stampede at a Christmas funfair programme on 18th December 2024.
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