Thousands of people have begun demanding fair trial for Queen Naomi Silekunola, former wife of the Ooni of Ife Oba Adeyeye Ogunwusi, who is spending Christmas in prison.
A Chief Magistrate’s Court sitting in Iyaganku, Ibadan on Tuesday ordered the remand of Silekunola and others at Agodi Correctional Centre over the deadly stampede which occurred on December 18 at a Christmas funfair at Islamic High School, Bashorun, Ibadan.
According to the police, 35 minors died in the stampede while six others were critically injured.
On Thursday, one Yetunde Ola started a petition to demand fair trial for Silekunola.
As of 1:30pm, 4,295 signatures had been registered on the petition. The figure is expected to rise.
The goal of the petition read, “Queen Silekunola Naomi has been an active beacon of hope in her community, often seen extending a helping hand to those in desperate need. Her actions were driven by an earnest intention to alleviate the suffering of hungry children when, regrettably, an unfortunate stampede occurred. Now, she finds herself unfairly entangled in a web of legal accusations that are both disheartening and misplaced.
“We, the supporters of Queen Naomi, are seeking justice. It is paramount that her court cases are addressed with utmost impartiality and integrity. We must hold our judicial systems accountable for their actions and ensure that they remain transparent, fair, and unbiased in their proceedings.
“It is important to remember that Queen Naomi’s actions were driven not by malicious intent, but by the noble goal of supporting underprivileged children.
“Our plea is, thus, simple. Give Queen Silekunola Naomi a fair trial, unaffected by bias and calumny. We present this petition to highlight the necessity for a just legal process that respects the evidence and operates in compliance with the principles of justice. We reinforce our commitment to stand by Queen Naomi, championing for justice, fairness, and truth. Sign our petition to support a fair judicial process for Queen Silekunola Naomi.”
