The President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Afam Osigwe, has called on the Rivers State Command of the Nigeria Police Force to either charge Port Harcourt-based Pastor Tombari Joseph Gbeneol to court or release him, following his arrest over an alleged plot to assassinate the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike.

A leaked phone conversation allegedly exposed plans by Pastor Gbeneol and former Secretary to the Rivers State Government, Tammy Danagogo, to bring Israelis to carry out the assassination, prompting the arrest and detention of Gbeneol.

However, Osigwe noted that the continued detention of the pastor without formal charge was unconstitutional. In a statement, he said:

“Reports emerging from Rivers State concerning the continued detention of a Port Harcourt-based pastor, Mr. Tombari Joseph Gbeneol, have raised serious constitutional and rule of law concerns that demand immediate attention.
The circumstances surrounding his arrest, which are said to be linked to an alleged assassination plot of a public official and his reported detention for nearly two weeks without formal charge, strike at the core of fundamental liberties guaranteed under Nigeria’s constitutional democracy.”

Osigwe emphasized that while the NBA recognizes the responsibility of law enforcement to prevent threats to national security, such pursuits must remain within constitutional bounds. He stressed that national security does not suspend constitutional guarantees or justify prolonged detention without due process, noting that the Constitution guarantees the right to personal liberty and mandates prompt court appearances for any person accused of a criminal offence.

The NBA President further stated:

“Allegations, however grave, remain allegations until tested in open court. The presumption of innocence is a cornerstone of criminal justice and must not be eroded by investigative delay, media speculation, or executive discretion. We therefore call on the Nigeria Police Force to act strictly in accordance with the law by either charging Mr. Tombari Joseph Gbeneol before a competent court without further delay or releasing him immediately if investigations have not yielded sufficient basis for prosecution.”

Osigwe warned that continued detention without judicial oversight undermines public confidence in law enforcement and urged that investigations be conducted professionally and transparently.

Meanwhile, former Rivers State Secretary to the Government, Tammy Danagogo, has responded to a police invitation over his alleged involvement in the plot. The Intelligence Response Team (IRT) of the Force Intelligence Department in Abuja had directed Danagogo to appear on Thursday, 15th January 2026, over the same leaked telephone conversation linking him to Pastor Gbeneol.

Through his lawyers, Danagogo, Oputa & Associates, the former SSG informed the police that he was out of town and could not honour the scheduled invitation. The law firm requested that the interview be rescheduled to Monday, 26th January 2026. The response, signed by Sir I. O. Nwodoh, Esq., read in part:

“The attention of our Chief, Dr. T. W. Danagogo, has been drawn to your letter under reference after your service on us yesterday at about 18:00 hours. Upon reaching our Chief, we regret to inform you that he is out of town and may not be available at your slated Thursday, 15th January 2026 appointment. Consequently, we crave your kind indulgence to have the appointment re-scheduled for Monday, the 26th day of January 2026, for the interview.”

The NBA continues to stress that the criminal justice system must not be weaponized, and constitutional rights must be upheld for all individuals implicated in the matter.

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