Ooni’s Former Queen, Naomi Silekunola, on Hunger Strike in Agodi Prison, Says Her Mother
The mother of Ooni’s ex-queen, Naomi Silekunola, has revealed that her daughter is currently on hunger strike in Agodi Prison, Ibadan. Naomi’s case, she explained, is now in the hands of the courts after being transferred from the police to judicial authorities. The police, according to her, have not provided any updates regarding Naomi’s release.
“My daughter’s case was taken to court on December 24, 2024, and is currently being handled by the magistrate’s court,” Naomi’s mother said. “The magistrate has ordered that she be remanded at a custodial facility in Agodi, Ibadan, following the adjournment of her case until January 13, 2025.”
Regarding Naomi’s involvement in the controversial event, which has sparked debates, her mother clarified that the nature of her daughter’s role—whether direct or collaborative—remains a point of contention. “The police tried to arraign her, but the magistrate couldn’t grant her bail as only the High Court has that power. As a result, she, along with Mr. Oriyomi and the school principal, was ordered into custody,” she explained.
As for efforts to secure Naomi’s release, her mother appealed to the public for support. “We are begging Nigerians to help us. We ask for assistance in appealing to Governor Seyi Makinde to intervene. We want to express our deepest apologies to the parents who tragically lost their children. It was not intentional, and we never meant for such a tragedy to occur.”
When asked if she had reached out to Governor Makinde personally, Naomi’s mother admitted that she had not. “I don’t have the governor’s contact, and I have not been to his office. All I can do is appeal to Nigerians to help us. We never even brought anything to the venue of the event—it was shut down by security before it could take place,” she said.
Regarding her daughter’s legal defense, Naomi’s mother expressed trust in her lawyers. “I believe the lawyers are doing their best. They know how to present the case in court,” she said. “We’ve explained everything to them about the incident. The deaths occurred early in the morning, between 6 and 7 a.m., and the event itself was supposed to start at 10 a.m.”
As for the Ooni’s palace, Naomi’s mother refrained from commenting directly, calling the situation “a family matter.” However, she expressed her belief that the palace would be working to resolve the issue amicably, especially since Naomi is the mother of a child to the Ooni of Ife. “I believe the Ooni would want to ensure that she doesn’t remain in prison,” she said.
During her last visit to Naomi, her mother noted that the ex-queen was struggling emotionally and physically. “She wasn’t feeling well at all. She loves children, and this tragedy has deeply affected her,” Naomi’s mother said. “She’s always helped children, single mothers, and widows. She’s still in pain over the loss of those children. She has refused to eat and has become very emaciated in prison.”
Naomi’s mother also expressed concern about the broader impact of the incident, urging Nigerians not to let it tarnish the goodwill of charitable acts. “The queen has always tried to help people, especially children. This wasn’t intentional. I don’t believe people will stop helping others because of what happened,” she said.
Finally, she extended a personal appeal to the parents of the deceased children. “As a mother, I can only imagine the pain of losing a child. I am willing to visit those families and offer my deepest condolences,” she said, her voice filled with emotion. “Please, forgive us. This was an unfortunate accident. We never meant for this to happen.”
