The Association of Humble Men & Women for Egalitarian Society (AHMWFES), also known as The Bail Is Free Campaign Organisation, said it received a complaint that the elderly citizen was made to part with the money under circumstances that “require urgent and impartial investigation.”
By Ehioze Gilbert
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Published on November 8, 2026
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3 min read
A human rights organisation has petitioned the Edo State Commissioner of Police over allegations that officers at Evbuotubu Divisional Police Headquarters extorted ₦350,000 from an 88-year-old man who had sought police assistance.
The Association of Humble Men & Women for Egalitarian Society (AHMWFES), also known as The Bail Is Free Campaign Organisation, said it received a complaint that the elderly citizen was made to part with the money under circumstances that “require urgent and impartial investigation.”
According to the group’s public statement, signed by Director General Oni-Edigin Justice, the allegations are broken down as follows:
- ₦50,000 was allegedly collected as bail for a caregiver/nanny who had been looking after the elderly man.
- Officers allegedly misrepresented the caregiver and others as suspects. After their arrest, the elderly man and his son were pressured to secure the release of the same person earlier presented as a suspect, and a further ₦50,000 was reportedly collected.
- ₦300,000 was allegedly demanded and collected under the guise of an “oracle-related process” intended to track or recover the elderly man’s alleged ₦1.5 billion. This matter was said to be the reason he went to the station in the first place.
The organisation stressed that the claims, if established, raise serious questions about police conduct, the protection of vulnerable citizens, and the proper discharge of police duties.
AHMWFES has called on the Edo State Commissioner of Police to immediately initiate an independent and impartial investigation; ensure the DPO of Evbuotubu Division, the Investigating Police Officer (IPO), and every other implicated officer are made available for questioning; and thoroughly probe the circumstances surrounding the alleged collection of ₦350,000.
It further demanded that any officer found culpable faces appropriate disciplinary and legal consequences, and that any money established to have been unlawfully collected be recovered and refunded.
“An 88-year-old Nigerian citizen deserves protection, dignity and justice, not alleged exploitation,” the statement said.
The group reiterated its core position: “BAIL IS FREE. IT IS NOT NEGOTIABLE. IT IS A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT.”
AHMWFES noted that its intervention is not an attack on the Nigeria Police Force but a call for accountability, professionalism and respect for citizens’ rights.
It warned that if there is no meaningful response or transparent investigation, it will consider a wider public awareness and accountability campaign through lawful and peaceful means.
The allegations remain unproven and are subject to investigation, even as officers named or implicated in the complaint have a right to respond.
