Funmilayo Ogunseyi, mother of Naomi Silekunola, the ex-wife of the Ooni of Ife, has pleaded for intervention in her daughter’s legal troubles following a tragic stampede in Ibadan that left over 40 children dead.
Naomi, one of three individuals arraigned at the Iyaganku Magistrate Court, faces charges of conspiracy and negligence for the incident. Tearfully appealing to President Bola Tinubu and Nigerians in an Instagram video, Ogunseyi described her daughter’s charitable intentions and recounted how the tragedy unfolded.
According to Ogunseyi, crowds overwhelmed the venue long before the event began at 10 a.m., with the stampede occurring around 6:30 a.m., hours before Naomi arrived. She stated that Naomi, unwell at the time, fainted during police interrogation and remains in custody despite her fragile health.
“I beg for mercy and understanding. Naomi only wanted to help the needy, as she has done for over a decade,” Ogunseyi said. She further alleged that her daughter’s ordeal stems from orders by influential figures, urging the government to ensure justice.
Ogunseyi expressed deep sympathy for the bereaved families, insisting the tragedy was unintentional, and called for Naomi’s release, emphasizing her daughter’s innocence and humanitarian efforts.
