What Exactly Was Harrison’s Crime? Court Remands Activist in Benin Prison

• Human rights activist Harrison Gwamnishu has been remanded in Benin Prison following allegations that he diverted part of a ransom intended to free a kidnapped couple in Edo State.
• Gwamnishu denies the accusation, insisting he never handled the money and only sought to help the family.

Human rights activist Harrison Gwamnishu has been accused of diverting part of a ransom payment reportedly meant to secure the release of a family member from captivity.

The allegation was first made by an X user, @Abdulganiyu0se1, who claimed that Gwamnishu received a ₦20 million ransom alongside an additional ₦50,000. The user alleged that the activist diverted a portion of the funds intended to free his sister and her husband.

In response, Gwamnishu issued a lengthy statement on Facebook, saying he initially chose to remain silent because one of the kidnap victims was still being held.

“The only reason I am staying silent is because of the safety of the man still in captivity. But since the family who are supposed to protect their brother are accusing me falsely, is it not better I drop all that happened including our initial plans for posterity sake,” his post read.

He stated that investigative journalists were welcome to look into the matter and obtain the full facts. According to him, representatives of the Edo State government were aware of the situation from the beginning.

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The controversy reportedly began after Gwamnishu was accused of diverting part of a payment meant to secure the release of a pregnant woman and her husband in Edo State. The family later claimed the abductors declared the money was incomplete, leading to only the pregnant woman being released.

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Gwamnishu maintains his innocence, insisting he never touched the money and acted only to assist.

With the matter now before the court, the activist has been remanded in Benin Prison pending further proceedings, as the debate around the incident continues to draw public attention.