A Chief Magistrate court in Ado-Ekiti has issued an immediate order for the sealing of the Crown Emirate hotel, located in Ikere-Ekiti, Ekiti State, following a tragic stampede during a convocation party that resulted in three fatalities.

The court further granted a request from the Attorney General of the state, allowing the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) to assume control of the ongoing case.

Chief Magistrate Mr. Abayomi Adeosun presided over the hearing where 12 suspects were brought before the court by the police in connection with the Ikere-Ekiti stampede.

The police prosecutor, Mr. Martins Akala, had filed a motion exparte, seeking to remand the suspects in Correctional custody for a period of 30 days to facilitate further investigation.

The charges leveled against the suspectsinclude conspiracy,criminal negligence, and manslaughter, substantiated by a 10-paragraph affidavit.

During the proceedings, Barrister Kunle Adeyemo, the Deputy Director and Legal Officer for Ekiti State, informed the court that he was authorized by the Attorney General and Commissioner for Justice, Mr. Dayo Apata, SAN, to take over the matter.

Defense lawyers, including Barrister Kike Owolabi, Gbenga Ariyibi, Busuyi Ayorinde, and A. T. Durodola, representing their clients, argued against the remand application.

They asserted that there was no reasonable cause to detain their clients, emphasizing that such a decision would infringe upon their right to liberty and requested the dismissal of the application, citing their clients' absence from the scene of the crime.

Despite the arguments from the defense, Chief Magistrate Abayomi Adeosun ruled that all suspects are to be remanded in Correctional custody.

This remand is to remain in effect pending legal advice from the DPP. The case has been adjourned until May 19, 2026, for further proceedings.