Extortion Allegation : Court grants Police power to investigate Prof. Otegbayo

An Oyo State High Court sitting in Ibadan and presided over by Justice Olusola Adetujoye, on Wednesday struck out a case brought before it by the Chief Medical Director of University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan, Professor Jesse Abiodun Otegbayo, to restrain the Nigerian Police from investigating him over a petition written against him by a firm accusing him of extortion.

It will be recalled that, Professor Otegbayo was alleged of extortion by a firm, Tigerflo Builders and Construction Nig. Ltd., to the tune of N11 million according to a petition written against him at the Nigeria Police Command, Osogbo Zone XI, but the CMD approached the High Court to seek an injunction to restrain the Police from investigating him over the case.

Passing a ruling on fundamental right case today, Justice Adetujoye struck out the case, thereby empowering the police to go ahead with their investigation over the allegation.

The petition, which was written on November 13, 2023, and made available to newsmen by the Counsel to the petitioner, was titled: Criminal extortion of the sum of N 11,956,800.00 from Tigerflo Builders and Construction Nig. Ltd. by Professor Jesse Otegbayo, The Chief Medical Director of University College Hospital (UCH) Ibadan.

Upon receiving the petition on November 14, 2023, the investigation unit of the zonal Police command invited Prof. Otegbayo for his statement, and after making statements with the Police he approached the court to prevent the Police from going further with their investigation.