A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Oke, SAN, has written a petition to the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, demanding action over alleged extortion of the sum of N151.5 million from a diasporan Nigerian, Segun Okubajo.

In the petition filed on behalf of the alleged victim’s father, Mr. Okubajo Kehinde, the SAN listed four police officers, who he said abducted Mr. Segun Okubajo in Lagos and took him to Abuja.

The petition added that Segun was held incommunicado, while the policemen forced his family to cough out the enormous sum under threats and duress.

According to the petition, “Our client’s son, Segun Okubajo, who had no criminal complaints against him from any source or by any person, was violently arrested on October 9, 2024, by the above-named officers.

“The said officers invaded his apartment with heavy weapons, switched off all his CCTV cameras, seized his phones, and held him incommunicado before forcefully taking him away in leg chains and handcuffs to the Office of the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Force CID, Area 10, Abuja.”

He alleged in the petition that two persons identified as known informants specialise in framing up perceived foreign-based Nigerians in collusion with the above-named policemen and others.

“The duo capitalised on Segun Okubajo’s visit to Nigeria to orchestrate a framed-up, imaginary allegation, without any complainant, with the sole aim of criminally extorting and depriving him of a very huge sum of money,” he said.

It was alleged that the officers demanded N1billion but eventually settled for a “negotiated” amount of N151.5 million, which the family was forced to raise through loans and contributions from friends and cooperative societies

“Our client informed us that upon his son’s arrest… he was later taken to Abuja where the officers initially demanded the sum of one billion naira, but ended up collecting a total sum of N151,500,000.00.

“To save his son’s life, himself and members of the family decided to raise the sum… through loans from their businesses, friends, associates, and their cooperative societies.

“After the extortion, Okubajo reportedly fled back abroad and has since faced continued threats to his life and that of his family.

“The aforementioned police officers have resorted to acts of desperation which include sending threat messages to Segun Okubajo and members of his family against pursuing justice.

“They also threatened them from seeking justice through any other means or channel, in a desperate bid to cover or obliterate their criminal act,” the petitioners further alleged.

The senior lawyer regretted that despite filing earlier petitions in November 2024, including one directly to the IGP, the family claims that the threats had persisted, prompting the current petition demanding a full investigation, immediate refund of the extorted sum, and disciplinary action against the officers involved.

He said should the IGP fail to act, they would be left with no alternatives than to take further steps.

“OUR DEMANDS: In view of the forgoing, we therefore request that the Office of the Inspector-General of Police should take immediate, urgent steps to: DIRECT a thorough and comprehensive investigation of the allegations made against the above named policemen as contained in this petition.

“DIRECT immediate refund of the sum of (N 151, 500, 000. 00) One Hundred and Fifty-One Million, Five Hundred Thousand Naira forcefully taken from our Client’s son, Mr. Segun Okubajo by the above named policemen not later than fourteen (14) days from the service and receipt of this petition.

“TAKE SUCH FURTHER or other (immediate or (future) measures or steps, including by extracting appropriate undertakings from the above named policemen against continuous or further threats of any sort, in whatever way or manner, against our Client, his son and/or other members of his entire family. (iv) CAUSE APPROPRIATE DISCIPLINARY.

“ACTION to be taken against the above named policemen by the relevant unit or institution(s) of the Nigerian Police in the way or manner deemed appropriate within the confines of the extant laws and rules of engagement of the Nigerian Police Force in line with the admirable “no-nonsense” disposition of the current Nigerian Police under IGP, Dr. Kayode Egbetokun.”

The lawyers warned that if the IGP’s office failed to act within 14 days, the case would be escalated.