The branch also urged Inspector-General of Police (IGP) Tunji Disu to investigate the allegations and take appropriate action if they are established.
Chairman of the Gombe NBA, Barrister Alhassan Mu’azu, made the call on Wednesday after the branch’s monthly congress, attended by lawyers, elders and past leaders of the association.
Mu’azu said the allegations followed a complaint by a member of the branch, Barrister E.S. Tizhe, who represented Ahmed Shuaibu Gara in a matter being investigated at the FCID Annex over an allegation of cyberbullying.
According to Mu’azu, Tizhe visited the police facility to represent his client in line with the constitutional right to legal representation.
The NBA chairman alleged that money was demanded as a condition for Gara’s release on bail, describing such a demand, if established, as unlawful.
He said the branch subsequently constituted a committee comprising senior lawyers and elders to investigate complaints concerning activities at the FCID Annex.
“We have been gathering information. It is not only that of Tizhe. The branch had to constitute a committee of bar leaders and elders of the branch to investigate the activities and alleged extortion that is ongoing,” Mu’azu said.
He added that the committee had received information from other individuals who allegedly had similar experiences and was preparing its report for submission to the appropriate authorities.
Mu’azu further alleged that some lawyers had been subjected to embarrassing treatment while representing their clients at the police facility, insisting that the NBA would take further action if the allegations were substantiated.
“We are condemning this in the strongest terms. We are calling on the Inspector-General of Police to ensure that these activities are properly investigated and that the AIG, if found wanting, must be prosecuted,” he said.
The allegations stem from a petition dated September 7, 2026, in which Tizhe alleged that Gara was arrested on August 14 following a complaint involving alleged criminal mischief and criminal defamation of character.
The lawyer alleged that after his client’s statement was obtained, they were taken to the AIG’s office, where money was allegedly demanded for the suspect’s release.
According to the petition, Gara was allegedly asked to “drop some money” and initially paid ₦100,000.
Tizhe further alleged that he was asked to submit his Call to Bar certificate and NBA identification card as part of the bail process. He claimed that Gara was asked to pay another ₦100,000 on August 17, while he personally paid ₦500,000 on August 20 following what he described as threats.
The lawyer also alleged that complainants seeking investigations into criminal complaints at the FCID Annex were sometimes required to pay between ₦50,000 and ₦100,000 before investigations could commence.
However, Agene has denied demanding or receiving money from Gara, his surety or the lawyer.
In a letter dated October 2, 2026, addressed to the IGP, the AIG said the case involved an allegation of cyberbullying against Gara and explained that the suspect had made a statement during the investigation.
Agene said Tizhe subsequently requested administrative bail for his client and was informed of the conditions required for the bail.
He explained that the lawyer initially offered to stand as surety but was told that, as the suspect’s solicitor, he could not act as surety. Tizhe later produced police auditor Usman Adamu as surety.
The AIG said he directed the lawyer to indicate that he knew the proposed surety and provide his Call to Bar certificate and identification card to facilitate the suspect’s production when required.
Agene maintained that the documents were voluntarily submitted and denied that their submission was connected to any demand for money.
“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.
The AIG also alleged that investigators later had difficulty reaching the surety after Gara’s release. He accused the lawyer and suspect of allegedly using social media to intimidate people while seeking financial compensation.
Agene described the extortion allegation as an attempt to tarnish his reputation and challenged the lawyer to produce evidence that money was demanded or collected.
He also asked Tizhe to appear with Gara and the surety for the continuation of the investigation and warned that the lawyer could face legal action over alleged obstruction of an offender and defamation of character.
The allegations made by the NBA and the lawyer have not been judicially established, while Agene has expressly denied any wrongdoing. The matter remains subject to investigation and any further lawful proceedings.
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