A former Carleton Ravens basketball player is facing sexual assault charges following an alleged incident this spring.
Police say a 23-year-old woman alleges she was plied with alcohol and drugs after meeting a man at a bar in the ByWard Market on April 7, 2019. She claims she was then taken to a west-end address and sexually assaulted before being put in a taxi and driven home. Police say she was in and out of consciousness during this time.
Eddie (Edward) Ekiyor, 22, is charged with sexual assault, kidnapping, and overcoming resistance to commit an offence; Ekiyor was released on bail Friday afternoon to a surety.
Ekiyor was the tournament MVP after the Ravens’ 2019 men’s championship win in March. Ekiyor won two national championships in his three seasons with the Ravens.
According to the university, Ekiyor is no longer a member of the men's basketball squad. Team officials have confirmed the 22-year-old stand-out from Ottawa intended to pursue professional basketball opportunities rather than return for a fourth season at Carleton.
"Carleton University was unaware of the alleged incident related to Eddie Ekiyor until the Ottawa Police Service issued a news release today," said the university in a statement to CTV News. "Carleton cannot comment on any matter that is before the courts."
Police say they believe there may be additional victims and are asking anyone with information to come forward."
Anyone with information regarding this investigation is asked to call the Sexual Assault & Child Abuse Unit at 613-236-1222, ext.5760. Anonymous tips can be submitted by calling Crime Stoppers toll-free at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS), or crimestoppers.ca.
This isn't Ekiyor's first run-in with the law. In 2016, he pleaded guilty to a hit-and-run incident in August of 2015, in which he struck an off-duty police officer who was riding her bicycle; Ekiyor then fled the scene.
Ekiyor will be back in court in late August facing the sexual assault charges. The name of his accuser is protected under a court-ordered publication ban. None of the allegations has been tested in court.
