Mrs. Funmilayo Ogunseyi, the mother of Naomi Silekunola, a former wife of the Ooni of Ife, has called on President Bola Tinubu and well-meaning Nigerians to intervene in her daughter’s legal troubles.
Silekunola is among three individuals taken before the Iyaganku Magistrate Court in Ibadan in connection with a tragic funfair stampede that resulted in the death of 35 children last week.
The court has since ordered the remand of the accused in prison on charges bordering on conspiracy, negligent acts causing harm, and failure to provide adequate security and medical facilities at the event.
In an emotional video that has gone viral, Mrs. Ogunseyi pleaded for mercy, asserting that her daughter’s intentions were purely humanitarian.
According to her, Naomi had organised numerous outreach programmes over the past decade to assist the needy, elderly, children, and pregnant women across Nigeria.
She lamented that her daughter’s goodwill had inadvertently led to the stampede and subsequent deaths.
“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. We have travelled across the country helping children and the vulnerable. I sympathise with the families who lost their children; it was never our intention. Please, don’t let Naomi be imprisoned—she is innocent. She only came to show compassion,” Ogunseyi said tearfully.
She recounted the events leading to the tragedy, noting that crowds had gathered hours before the programme’s scheduled start time of 10 a.m.
According to her, the stampede began around 6:30 a.m., long before Naomi arrived at the venue.
Mrs. Ogunseyi further revealed that Naomi, who was reportedly unwell, fainted during police interrogation and remains in custody despite her fragile health.
“The programme was meant to begin at 10 a.m., but people started arriving the day before. By 6:30 a.m., the crowd became uncontrollable. Naomi wasn’t even there yet. I received a call about the chaos while still asleep. My phone number was on the event flyer, so I was the one 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 narrated.
Breaking down in tears, Ogunseyi appealed to President Tinubu and other influential Nigerians to intervene. She claimed that her daughter’s predicament was orchestrated by “powerful persons.”
“They have taken my child to prison. The court was full of policemen. I don’t know where else to turn. They say her ordeal is an ‘order from above.’ Please, I beg those in power to release her. She is not a killer; she came to help. Naomi is fragile and sick. President Tinubu, I beg you, come to our aid,” she implored.
Mrs. Ogunseyi also expressed her condolences to the families of the deceased children, emphasising that the tragedy was unintended.
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