The mother of Prophetess Naomi Silekunola, the former Queen of Ooni of Ife, has called on Nigerians to assist her after her daughter was placed under remand in Agodi prison due to the stampede that killed 35 minors last Wednesday.
In a brief video, the mother is seen sobbing and claiming that her daughter is innocent of the charges against her.
“Help me, have mercy on me, don’t let them ruin my life,” she added.
“My daughter has been working on this program for more than ten years, and it’s to help kids.” The world, please help release my daughter, Naomi, who is really innocent.
Naomi, Mr. Hamzat Oriyomi, the owner of Agidigbo FM, and Mr. Abdullahi Fasasi, the principal of Islamic School Bashorun, were all charged with four counts: conspiracy, accelerating death, causing harm through negligence, and failing to provide proper security and medical facilities.
The court stated that they would remain in jail detention until January 13 while the Director of Public Prosecution, or DPP, gave his or her opinion.
Though the counsel of the accused tried to convince the court not to remand their clients, the Magistrate, Olabisi Ogunkanmi, ordered that they should be remanded pending the advice from the DPP, of the Oyo State Ministry of Justice.
Counsel to Oriyomi Hamzat, Mr Ridwan Adekunle told the court that there was a mutual agreement between him and the Officer-in-Charge (OC) Legal, that his client would not be taken to prison but kept in police custody.
In his submission to the court, counsel to the principal, Mr. Olajide, argued that his clients should not be arraigned in court, urging the court to send them to the police custody instead of prison custody.
The case, marked C/2024 was instituted by the Commissioner of Police. Though, seven suspects were earlier arrested, five of them were released.
Recall that following the regrettable tragedy, Queen Naomi and Oriyomi were admitted to the hospital.
After the incident, Oriyomi claimed to be in shock, and the queen reportedly sagged while in police custody.
Following the incident, Governor Seyi Makinde promised that a thorough investigation would be carried out and that anyone found to be at fault would be subject to the full force of the law.
