A Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Prof. Yemi Oke, SAN, has petitioned the Inspector General of Police, IGP Kayode Egbetokun, over the alleged extortion of N151.5 million from a diasporan Nigerian, Segun Okubajo, by police officers.

The petition, filed on behalf of the victim's father, Mr. Okubajo Kehinde, names four police officers who allegedly abducted Segun Okubajo in Lagos and transported him to Abuja, where he was held incommunicado while his family was forced to pay the enormous sum under 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 petition further detailed that the 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."

Prof. Oke alleged that two known informants, in collusion with the police officers, specialize in framing foreign-based Nigerians. These individuals reportedly capitalized on 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."

The petition revealed that the officers initially demanded N1 billion but eventually settled for N151.5 million, which the family was forced to raise through loans and contributions from friends and cooperative societies to secure Segun's release.

"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," the petition stated.

Following the extortion, Okubajo reportedly fled back abroad and has since faced continued threats to his life and that of his family. The petition noted that the police officers "have resorted to acts of desperation which include sending threat messages to Segun Okubajo and members of his family against pursuing justice."

The senior lawyer expressed regret that despite filing earlier petitions in November 2024, including one directly to the IGP, the threats have persisted, prompting this current petition with specific demands.

Prof. Oke's demands include a thorough investigation of the allegations, immediate refund of the extorted N151.5 million within 14 days, measures to stop further threats against the victim and his family, and appropriate disciplinary action against the implicated police officers.

The petition warned that if the IGP's office fails to act within the 14-day ultimatum, the case would be escalated to other authorities for appropriate action.