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Governor Seyi Makinde of Oyo State on Monday declared that the organisers of the Xmas children’s funfair, during which 35 children died, will face trial.
Governor Makinde made this declaration during the annual interfaith service to herald the year 2025, held at the car park of the Governor’s Office Secretariat.
It would be recalled that 35 children died
in a stampede that occured during the funfair organised on December 18, 2024, at the Islamic High School, Basorun, Ibadan.
Organisers of the tragic event include an ex-wife of the Ooni of Ife, Prophetess Naomi Silekunola Ogunwusi; the owner of Agidigbo FM, Oriyomi Hamzat; and the Principal of Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan, Fasasi Abdullahi Babatunde.
The trio have been arrested and remanded at the Agodi Custodial Centre, Ibadan.
Makinde revealed that he has been receiving calls from different people questioning why the organisers should not be allowed to go free.
“Thirty -five innocent souls were lost; we won’t see such again in Oyo State by God’s grace.
“Quite a number of people reached out to me, saying that this happened in Anambra and FCT and nobody went to jail. Why is it that in Oyo State, some people will go to jail? Oyo is not Anambra, and no matter how highly placed, justice must be done.
“The judiciary is here, after all; it’s in their court. If they think they can grant bail pending the trial, I don’t have anything against it, but they must go on trial.
“Even if the entire country decides not to follow the rule of law, Oyo State will dare to be different,” he concluded.
