Mrs. Funmilayo Ogunseyi, the mother of Naomi Silekunola, a former wife of the Ooni of Ife, has made an emotional appeal to President Bola Tinubu and Nigerians for intervention in her daughter’s legal troubles following a tragic stampede at a funfair in Ibadan. The incident, which occurred last week, claimed the lives of 35 children.
Naomi Silekunola, along with two others, is facing charges at the Iyaganku Magistrate Court in Ibadan. The charges include conspiracy, negligent acts causing harm, and failure to provide adequate security and medical facilities at the event. The court has ordered the remand of the accused in prison pending further hearings.
In a widely circulated video, Mrs. Ogunseyi pleaded for leniency, insisting her daughter’s intentions were purely humanitarian. She described Naomi as a compassionate individual who had dedicated over a decade to organising outreach programmes for vulnerable groups, including children, the elderly, and pregnant women across Nigeria.
“Please have mercy on me. Mothers, have mercy. Come to my rescue. Don’t let my life be destroyed. My child only came to Ibadan to help the needy; this was not her first time,” Mrs. Ogunseyi said tearfully. “I sympathise with the families who lost their children; it was never our intention. Naomi is innocent and only came to show compassion.”
Mrs. Ogunseyi provided a detailed account of the tragic events. According to her, the programme was scheduled to begin at 10 a.m., but crowds began gathering at the venue the night before. By 6:30 a.m., long before Naomi arrived, the crowd had grown uncontrollable, leading to the fatal stampede.
“I was asleep when I received a call about the chaos. My phone number was on the event flyer, so I was the first to be contacted. Naomi, her elder brother, and I immediately went to the police station to report the incident, but she was detained and later charged with murder,” Ogunseyi explained.
Mrs. Ogunseyi revealed that her daughter, who was reportedly unwell, fainted during police interrogation and remains in custody despite her fragile health. She further alleged that Naomi’s legal troubles were influenced by “powerful persons” acting against her.
“They have taken my child to prison. The court was full of policemen. They say her ordeal is an ‘order from above.’ I beg President Tinubu and other influential Nigerians to intervene. Naomi is not a killer; she came to help. She is fragile and sick,” she pleaded.
In her appeal, Mrs. Ogunseyi expressed deep condolences to the families of the deceased children, reiterating that the tragedy was unintended. She urged the authorities to consider her daughter’s track record of humanitarian efforts and called for mercy in light of the circumstances.
The case has sparked public debate, with many sympathising with Silekunola’s plight while calling for a thorough investigation to ensure justice for the victims. The Iyaganku Magistrate Court is expected to continue hearings in the coming weeks. Meanwhile, the calls for presidential and societal intervention grow louder.
This tragedy underscores the critical need for proper event planning and safety measures, particularly at events catering to large crowds.
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