A Gombe-based businessman, Ahmed Shuaibu-Gara, and his lawyer, Ezekiel Samuel-Tizhe, have dragged the police and two other individuals before the Federal High Court, demanding N50m in damages over alleged unlawful arrest, intimidation, extortion and seizure of personal belongings.
The applicants are also seeking a public apology in two national newspapers and the release of a mobile phone, a lawyer’s call-to-bar certificate and Nigerian Bar Association identity card allegedly withheld by the police.
The suit, filed before the Federal High Court, Gombe Judicial Division, names the Assistant Inspector-General of Police, Force Criminal Investigation Department, Gombe State, Mr Emmanuel Egene; the Police Service Commission; Tanko Isiyaku Gwamna; and an investigating police officer, ASP Abubakar Balarabe, as respondents.
In the application dated October 25, 2026, which was obtained on Sunday, the applicants challenged the arrest warrant issued by Chief Magistrate Court No. 15, Gombe, over a Facebook publication allegedly bordering on cybercrime and criminal defamation, describing it as illegal and unconstitutional.
They argued that the magistrate court “lacked jurisdiction to entertain the matter, insisting that the alleged actions of the police violated their fundamental rights guaranteed under Sections 34, 35, 36, 37, 41 and 46 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended,” the court document added.
The dispute reportedly arose from an article published on Facebook by Gara on August 12, 2026, titled, “Gombe, Gombawa and Matters Arising (12): H.E. Sen. Danjuma Goje: Wrong Diagnosis Leads to Bad Prescription.”
In a separate court document obtained on Sunday dated August 13, 2026, the complainant alleged that the publication contained defamatory statements capable of exposing him to hatred, ridicule and contempt, as well as damaging his professional reputation.
He urged the court to consider alleged offences of criminal mischief and criminal defamation under Sections 327 and 391 of the Penal Code Law.
However, the applicants alleged that the police collected N700,000 from them as bail money for Gara and confiscated his mobile phone without lawful justification.
They further claimed that the police withheld Tizhe’s call-to-bar certificate and NBA identity card despite Gara having produced a surety.
The applicants also accused the police of sending threatening text messages to the surety’s wife, alleging that the communication violated her right to privacy.
Among other reliefs, they are asking the court to restrain the respondents from further interfering with their fundamental rights, order the refund of the N700,000 allegedly collected and compel the release of the seized belongings.
They are also demanding $2,500 as compensation for losses allegedly suffered following the confiscation of Gara’s mobile phone, in addition to an order compelling the respondents to publish a public apology in two national newspapers.
Meanwhile, a Chief Magistrate Court sitting in Tumfure, Gombe, has issued an interim order restraining the police from further arresting, intimidating or harassing Gara or his surety in connection with the dispute.
The order, issued on October 29, 2026, by Chief Magistrate 14, Umar Jani-Bello, followed an ex-parte application and affidavit filed by the applicant.
In the enrolled order, the magistrate stated, “An order is hereby made restraining the 1st Respondent, whether by himself, his officers, agents, privies or any person acting under his authority, from further arresting, intimidating, harassing or subjecting the Applicant, Ahmed Shuaibu Gara, or his surety to any unlawful arrest, intimidation or harassment in respect of the subject matter of this application.”
The court also directed the police and officers acting under their authority to desist from any conduct intended to intimidate or unlawfully harass the applicant or his surety.
Giving the background to the order, the court noted that the matter was initially referred to the office of the first respondent by Chief Magistrate Court No. 15, Bogo, before being transferred to the Tumfure court on the directive of the state Chief Judge, Justice Halima Mohammed.
The transfer followed a petition by Gara and his lawyer, Tizhe.
The court subsequently referred the matter to the Criminal Investigation Department of the Gombe State Police Command for investigation.
The interim order is to remain in force pending further directives of the court.
The applicant was also directed to serve the respondents with the application, supporting affidavit and enrolled order.
The matter was adjourned until November 9, 2026.