By Funmilayo Obagbayegun
Justice Ladiran Akintola of an Oyo State High Court, sitting in Ibadan, has struck out a case of felony, murder, manslaughter and conspiracy to commit an offence against the former Queen of the Ooni of Ife, Naomi Ogunwusi, an Ibadan based broadcaster, Oriyomi Hamzat, and the Principal of Islamic High School, Basorun, Ibadan. Abdullah Fasasi.
The three were standing trial for their alleged involvement in the death of 35 children in a stampede during a Christmas funfair on December 18, 2024.
Justice Akintola said the case was struck out on compassionate grounds.
The judge also ordered the release of the defendants’ passports.
Speaking with newsmen after the ruling, counsel to one of the defendants, Mr Musibau Adetunbi, SAN, said all the parties involved in the case had agreed to settle out of court.
Mr Adetunbi noted that, though no amount of compensation could quantified the loss of lives.
Also, another defence counsel, Mr. Ridwan Adeleke said, some of the families of the victims of the stampede had appealed to the state government to discontinue the case.
