Family: How police collected over N150m to release our son detained illegally

A family has petitioned the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, over the alleged abduction of its abroad based son, Segun Okunbajo, leading to the payment of N151 million.

In the petition written by Prof. Yemi Oke, SAN, on behalf of the victim’s father, Mr. Okubajo Kehinde, it was alleged that four police officers forcefully took Mr. Segun Okubajo from Lagos to Abuja.

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

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“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 stated.

“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.

“Our client’s brief to us is that both Oladipo Ibrahim and Shedrach Luka are known informants who 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.”

Following the arrest, the officers allegedly 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 N1 billion, but ended up collecting a total sum of N151,500,000.00,” the petition read.

“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,” it added.

Despite filing earlier petitions in November 2024, including one directly to the IGP, the family claimed that the threats had persisted, prompting the current petition to demand a full investigation, immediate refund of the extorted sum, and disciplinary action against the officers involved.

“It is not the intention of the instant petition to make public or immediately resort to extensive litigation or drag the presidency, the international community and other local bodies… at this point in time. However, failure to comply shall leave us with no alternatives but to take further steps,” the petition read.

The lawyers warned that if the IGP’s office failed to act within 14 days, the case would be escalated and legal action would be taken against the Presidency, Police Service Commission, Ministry of Police Affairs, and others.

The petition, supported by “documents, videos and pictures,” urged IGP Egbetokun to act swiftly and decisively.

When contacted to find out if the police authorities were aware of the petition, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, Force Public Relations Officer, simply said, “I will find out from the DIG if this has been received.”