Over 12,000 supporters rally for the release of Naomi Ogunwusi, ex-wife of the Ooni of Ife, after her arrest linked to a deadly Ibadan stampede.
[dropcap]M[/dropcap]ore than 12,000 supporters of Prophetess Naomi Ogunwusi, the estranged wife of the Ooni of Ife, have voiced strong opposition to her arrest and detention following a tragic incident at a funfair in Ibadan, Oyo State.
Naomi, alongside the CEO of Agidigbo FM, Oriyomi Hamzat, was remanded in custody after a stampede at the event on December 18, 2024, claimed the lives of 35 children.
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The two, along with Fasasi Abdullahi, the Principal of Islamic High School in Ibadan where the event took place, were charged with conspiracy, causing death by negligence, endangering public safety, and failing to provide adequate security and medical facilities at the funfair. They all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Naomi had organised the event under her foundation, Women in Need of Guidance and Support, aiming to host 5,000 children for a charitable programme. However, the turnout exceeded expectations, with over 7,500 children attending.
The stampede occurred as children and their parents tried to force their way into the venue, leading to the tragic loss of young lives.
Since the incident, Naomi’s supporters have campaigned for her release, arguing that her actions were motivated by a desire to help underprivileged children, not to cause harm.
An online petition initiated by one of her supporters, Yetunde Ola, has garnered over 12,000 signatures calling for fairness and transparency in her trial.
Ola, in her petition, emphasised that Naomi’s intentions were pure, and that she was being unfairly blamed for the tragedy.
“We must hold our judicial systems accountable for their actions and ensure that they remain transparent, fair, and unbiased in their proceedings,” she said.
The petition’s supporters demand a fair trial for Naomi, asserting that she should not be punished for a charitable endeavour gone wrong.
Naomi’s mother, Funmilayo Ogunseyi, has also pleaded for her daughter’s release. In an emotional video that has gone viral, Ogunseyi suggested that powerful individuals were behind Naomi’s arrest.
“They say her ordeal is an ‘order from above.’ Naomi is fragile and sick. She is not a killer; she came to help,” she said, calling on President Bola Tinubu to intervene.
Despite these calls, the Oyo State Government has insisted that there is no political motivation behind Naomi’s arrest.
State Commissioner for Information, Dotun Oyelade, denied any involvement or prior knowledge of the event. He emphasised that the case was a judicial matter and should not be influenced by outside interference.
“The government did not officially know anything about her enterprise or plans. There are no draconian issues extraneous to the normal course of justice,” he stated, urging those criticising the government to allow the judicial process to unfold.
However, a video has surfaced showing Naomi meeting with the Oyo State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Toyin Balogun, the day before the funfair.
In the video, Balogun praises Naomi’s initiative, describing it as a “fantastic intervention” and expressing a desire to collaborate on similar projects in the future.
Balogun had even promised to attend the event, further complicating claims that the government had no knowledge of Naomi’s plans.
As Naomi’s legal battle continues, her supporters remain firm in their belief that she is the victim of an unjust process.
They vow to stand by her, seeking justice for the ex-queen and calling for a transparent and impartial trial.
Source: Read more at thesun.ng
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
