By Abubakar Rabilu, Gombe
The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Gombe Branch, and the Force Criminal Investigation Department (FCID) Annex in Gombe have traded allegations over claims of extortion, intimidation and abuse of office in the handling of a cyberbullying investigation.
The NBA branch chairman, Alhassan Muazu, alleged that police demanded N700,000 before releasing a suspect, Ahmadu Shuaibu Gara, on bail, while the Assistant Inspector-General of Police (AIG) in charge of the FCID Annex, Emmanuel Egune, denied demanding or receiving money in connection with the case.
Muazu, who spoke after the branch’s monthly congress attended by senior lawyers and elders, said the incident involved lawyer E.S. Tizhe, who was representing Gara.
According to him, Gara’s statement was taken by the police following allegations of cyberbullying, after which the suspect was allegedly asked to pay N700,000 before he could be released on bail.
The NBA chairman said the branch had constituted a committee of senior lawyers and elders to investigate complaints involving the FCID Annex and was collecting evidence from alleged victims.
He called on the Inspector-General of Police, Rilwan Disu, to investigate the allegations and take appropriate action if any wrongdoing was established.
Muazu also alleged that Egune summoned him after Tizhe’s petition was forwarded to the FCID Annex for a response and threatened to arrest him.
He said the NBA would not be intimidated and was prepared to seek legal redress if the police authorities failed to investigate the matter.
“If no action is taken, we are going to sue not only the AIG FCID Annex, but the entire Nigeria Police Force, including the Police Service Commission,” he said.
The NBA chairman also questioned the alleged collection of Tizhe’s call-to-bar certificate and identity card during the bail process, describing the action as unacceptable.
However, in a letter dated October 2, 2026 and addressed to the IGP, Egune rejected the allegations, explaining that the matter originated from a Chief Magistrate Court order directing the police to investigate a cyberbullying complaint filed by Alhaji Tanko Isiaka Gwamna against Gara.
The AIG said both the complainant and suspect were invited and their statements obtained, adding that Gara allegedly confessed to the offence.
He said Tizhe subsequently applied for administrative bail and presented a police auditor, Usman Adamu, as surety.
According to Egune, he directed the lawyer to establish that he knew the surety and submit his call-to-bar certificate and identity card to facilitate the production of the suspect whenever required.
The AIG maintained that the documents were voluntarily submitted and denied any demand for, or receipt of, money from the suspect, surety or lawyer.
“The AIG Force CID Annex Gombe neither had discussion of any money and/or received same from both the suspect, the surety and the solicitor,” he stated.
Egune further alleged that investigators made several unsuccessful attempts to contact the surety after Gara was released on bail.
He also claimed that similar allegations had previously been made against Tizhe and Gara, including a related complaint in 2025.
The dispute has now placed the NBA’s allegations against the police alongside the FCID Annex’s denial, with the lawyers insisting on an independent investigation into the matter.
