Former St. F.X. football player elects jury trial on sexual assault charges

A former football player at St. Francis Xavier University in Antigonish has elected to be tried by a Nova Scotia Supreme Court judge and jury on charges of sexually assaulting four women.

Omogbolahah (Teddy) Jegede, 22, was arraigned in Antigonish provincial court in mid-June.

Defence lawyer Adam Rodgers made the election on behalf of Jegede in provincial court in late July and then appeared in Supreme Court in Antigonish for him Aug. 1.

The two-week jury trial is tentatively set to begin Sept. 20, 2024. Justice Frank Hoskins hopes to firm up the dates for the hearing when lawyers appear in front of him again next month.

RCMP allege Jegede sexually assaulted one woman in September 2022 and three others in February of this year. All four alleged victims were students at St. F.X. at the time of the incidents.

Jegede was arrested and released on conditions April 14, when police announced the charges.

RCMP said they opened an investigation this March after receiving a report that an Antigonish  man had sexually assaulted a woman last September and had been harassing her since the incident.

As the investigation continued, officers learned of the other alleged victims.

Jegede’s undertaking to police requires him to have no contact with the four complainants, whose identities are protected by a publication ban. He also must stay away from any places associated with the women.

One of the complainants filed a civil lawsuit against St. F.X. this week in Supreme Court. 

In her statement of claim, the woman alleges the university failed to properly oversee the care, control and protection of students. She is seeking unspecified damages.