Islamic High School Old Students Association has declared that it was the Oyo State government through the ministry of education that granted Agidigbo FM the approval to use the school field, not the principal.
It made the claim during a press conference held in Ibadan, Friday evening.
DAILY POST recalls that no fewer than 35 children lost their lives as a result of stampede that occurred in the school on Wednesday during a children carnival held in the school.
The school principal, Mr. Abdullahi Fasasi was arrested by men of Oyo State police command on Wednesday and has not been released as of the time of filing this report on Friday.
But, the old students of the school have declared that it was the state ministry of education that granted the radio station the permission to use the school premises and not the principal.
National President of the Alumni Association, Dr. Bayo Busari who was flanked by his predecessor, Professor Ishaq Omotosho and other alumni of the school, declared that available information revealed that it was the ministry of education that granted the approval to the radio station not the principal.
Busari said that the available documents revealed that the radio station paid a sum of N360,000 to the state government to use the school last year.
He also revealed that the state government also granted the radio station the approval to use the school from November 2024 to October 2025.
The don lamented the arrest of the principal by the police when the owner of the radio station, Alhaji Oriyomi Hazmat had not been arrested.
“The principal did not approve the usage of the school. It is the state government through the ministry of education that usually grants the approval and that has been the practice.
“The principal has been detained for more than forty eight hours and he has not been charged to court as of today.
“Today is Friday and it has been more than forty eight hours since he was arrested.
“That is a violation of his fundamental human right. The principal has been arrested since Wednesday and the owner of the media partner of the event, Alhaji Oriyomi Hazmat has not been arrested. We understand that Queen Naomi Silekunola has been arrested.
“We have documents that show that the state government is the one that has been approving the school premises for usage and not the principal.
“They pay a certain amount of money and they grant them the approval. The approval comes from the ministry and not the principal.
“Last year the radio station paid a sum of N360,000 to use the school premises through one Adebowale Mukaila. The state government has been collecting money from event organisers who want to use the school. it is not the principal.
“We are also aware that the state government through the ministry of education has granted the radio station the approval to use the school from November 2024 till October 2025.
“The principal in his letter to the radio station had advised the station to put necessary measures in place to prevent unforeseen circumstances.
“So, why is the police still holding the principal when the owner of the radio station has not been arrested? This is unjust and unfair”.
