Edo Police Division refund money for alleged bail payments

BENIN, Edo — A rights group says money allegedly collected for bail at the New Etete Divisional Police Headquarters has been refunded after a public complaint.

The Association of Humble Men and Women For Egalitarian Society (AHMWFES), operating as The Bail Is Free Campaign Organisation, issued the update on Sunday, 13 September 2026.

DAILY South Nigeria had earlier reported the case of a complainant who alleged that ₦32,000 and another ₦20,000 were collected for bail at the station.

According to AHMWFES, the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) was contacted and denied collecting money for bail.

The organisation said the ₦32,000 has now been refunded.

It said the ₦20,000 has also been refunded, adding the second payment later appeared as ₦22,000 on a receipt available to the group.

AHMWFES added that the extra ₦2,000, together with ₦30,000 referenced in the evidence, is expected to be returned to the respective owners.

The group described the refunds as proof that citizens should report alleged misconduct through proper channels.

“Police officers should not demand or collect money from citizens as a condition for bail where the law provides for bail without such payment,” it said.

Nigerian law treats police administrative bail as free. The Constitution, the Administration of Criminal Justice Act and repeated Nigeria Police Force directives state that officers must not charge money to release a suspect on bail.

Official conditions may include a surety or a written recognizance, but those are not payments to the police.

The Justice Obi-Edigin led AHMWFES listed its helpline as 08033513406 for people who face alleged intimidation, harassment, extortion or unlawful bail demands.

Its statement ended: “Bail is free. It is not negotiable. It is your constitutional right.”

The group did not name the IPO or the complainant in the latest update.

It also did not say whether the remaining ₦2,000 and ₦30,000 had already been paid back.