A Delta State-based, self-proclaimed human rights activist, Harrison Gwamnishu, has declared that he is in “serious debt” and not mentally stable.
Gwamnishu contested to become a member of the Delta State House of Assembly as a candidate of the Labour Party in the March 18, 2023 legislative election but lost.
In a series of Facebook posts on Sunday, Gwamnishu claimed that he owed N110,000,000 and had paid N72,000,000, leaving him with a debt of N38,000,000 to offset.
He claimed he had resigned from his one-man non-governmental organisation and in need to donations to offset the outstanding debt. Gwamnishu, therefore, posted his account details and details of a gofundme account and appealed to unsuspecting members of the public to send him money, a move SaharaReporters learnt was to further defraud the public.
In June, SaharaReporters exclusively reported how Gwamnishu who was accused of defrauding several victims of millions of naira using his fake activism efforts, admitted to receiving “gifts” from former Delta State Governor, Ifeanyi Okowa.
The embattled activist in a reaction to a SaharaReporters’ investigative story on his chain of alleged criminal activities, said Okowa also sent him N300,000 to fix his (Gwamnishu’s) car and later gave him a brand-new Toyota Hilux in 2021.
Harrison claimed he was never part of the state government nor was he on their payroll, adding that he campaigned and supported Peter Obi of the Labour Party for president and was part of the “Obidient” movement.
During the investigation, sources told SaharaReporters that the activist sometimes posed as a lawyer to convince his victims to part with their money.
“He mostly operates on Facebook and Instagram where he has built a reputation as a fearless human rights activist and philanthropist. Most of his “humanitarian” activities are showcased online and on Facebook. Incidentally, his fraud victims are mostly his Facebook followers and in many cases beneficiaries of his philanthropic gestures,” a source had revealed.
SaharaReporters spoke to several people including his former associates and security agents conversant with Mr. Gwamnishu’s mode of operation.
From fraud, wife battering, ID theft, to forgery and robbery, they alleged that those were just a few of the crimes he had been accused of perpetrating over the last decade.
In one of Gwamnishu’s posts, he said, “To those who said is a SCAM and that im trying to raise money, here is one of the places they took my name and picture over this debt. You can visit the shrine and confirm.
“It was around March, 2023 they sent this video to me via Whatsapp.
“For everyone that reached out to me, I explained my own side of the story of what went wrong.
“I never defrauded and I won’t defraud.
“I am in debt and I will clear it. THIS PHASE SHALL PASS.
“(AS REQUESTED, below is my account details for your support.”
In another post, he said, “I sincerely appreciate you all for your words of encouragement and support. You have lifted my spirit so much and I am grateful, what can I do without you all? Thank you for the open and secret love that you have shown to me in this hard time.
“People are still calling and sourcing for means to support me, and with all humility I accept and appreciate your thoughts and move to support me.
“I was owing N110,000,000 and have paid N72,000,000 and have N38,000,000 to clear off the debt.”
In yet another post, he said, “I want to sincerely appreciate you all for your support over the years and being part of my journey.
“Just to inform you all that I’m in serious DEBT and I’m no longer mentally stable reasons for my recent post. Some friends have reached out and advised I let this out.
“I didn’t defraud anyone. My business went bad as this can be verified. Some of my friends gave me loans during my election.
“I have made effort in paying by selling my car gifted to me and also sold some of my property to pay off this debt.
“I have given them date and failed as I have no other possible solution to pay this debt.
“I have lost sleep, lost friends and relationship and never thought I will ever be going through this phase. My dad is currently suffering from the shock all this has caused as some of them went to my parents to threaten them.
“My love for humanity doesn’t stop me from having my own personal issues. Please to those who look up to me and feel disappointed, I am sorry that I am going through this. I am human and I can make mistakes too, but I am definitely not a fraud.
“Life happened to me and I pray that I can come out of it soonest
“I WISH TO INFORM EVERYONE THAT I HAVE RESIGNED FROM HEADING MY HUMAN RIGHTS TEAM TILL I’M ABLE TO CLEAR THIS ISSUE.”
Meanwhile, a post on Gwamnishu’s Facebook page on June 19 said, “You will never see a post from me ANYWHERE seeking for FUND RAISING FOR ANYONE.
“Anywhere you SEE IT, don’t DONATE, It’s a SCAM.
“HENCEFORTH, DON’T DONATE TO ME OR MY NGO (BEHIND BARS). I Will continue assisting with the little I have to those that deserve it on social media and off social media.
“GOD CONTINUES TO HELP US ALL.”
Meanwhile, in a video obtained SaharaReporters, Gwamnishu was caught on camera spraying money in a club.
Sources told SaharaReporters that Gwamnishu is in the habit of patronising highbrow night clubs in Asaba and Abuja where he openly sprays cash.
BACKGROUND
SaharaReporters had also reported that the 34-year-old fraudster described as the most prolific and talented conman in Nigeria by police sources – used a variety of tactics to swindle his followers and the public out of millions of naira he used to fund a splashy lifestyle.
Name
Gwamnishu in Asaba night club.mp4
Authored on
Sun, 10/01/2023 – 09:29
Display in Video Section
Off
Meanwhile in his reaction obtained on Wednesday, Gwamnishu admitted that he received both cash and car gifts from the Delta State government under former governor, Okowa.
He said, “From May 2022 till 12th June 2023, I never betrayed my party LABOUR PARTY. They bought some of the comrades and I stood my ground. Went ahead and picked up the party nomination to run for an election.
“My refusal to accept their offer and working as an opposition became a nightmare to them. I am not under any Government payroll and never have I worked for Delta State Government.
“After I was shot in 2021 and my car then was shattered, former Governor Arthur Okowa sent me N300,000 through Raymond to fix my car and promised to gift me another.
“To my shock, he gave me a brand new TOYOTA HILUX. This was in 2021 before I decided to run for election. Despite Okowa’s 2021 car gift and later becoming the PDP vice presidential candidate, Harrison never campaigned and supported Okowa. I moved around with several Obidient members to campaign for PETER OBI & DATTI who we believed have the interest of Nigeria.
“Dear @SaharaReporters, continue with your media war against my personality. Without investigation and hearing from me, your blog has published a post maligning my person. I wish you well on this journey.”
SaharaReporters had reported how Gwamnishu defrauded several victims of millions of naira in his fake activism bid.
In June 2021, Gloria Okolie, a 21-year-old female student was arrested and detained by the police in Owerri, Imo state, and accused of being the girlfriend of a wanted IPOB militant. Gloria was detained at the Imo state Tiger-based office of the notorious police squad Intelligence Response Team (IRT) led by disgraced DCP Abba Kyari where she was allegedly used as a beast of burden.
The family contacted Gwamnishu who pushed the story to the media to gain more popularity for himself in order to execute his next plan.
Within days, Gwamnishu had crowd-sourced about N5 million “to fight for the release of the young lady”.
A source familiar with the case told SaharaReporters that some angry police officers decided to tip off the family of Amaka Ohanaja about how Gwamnishu had stolen the money given to them by the Delta state government, after receiving several bashings from the public following the Gloria Okolie incident.
The Ohanaja family quickly petitioned the police Zone 5 Command against Gwamnishu. In response, the police wrote to invite Gwamnishu, asking him to report to their station to volunteer information on the case of murder.
In a letter seen by SaharaReporters dated 25 August 2021 and signed by DCP Polycap Dibia of Zone 5 Police Command Benin City titled “Re: Case Of Murder,” the police said they were investigating a written petition and requested Mr Gwamnishu to make himself available for an interview.
Gwamnishu and his friends however saw the invitation differently, or so they made everyone believe. They raised an alarm in the media that the police wanted to hang a case of murder on him because of his advocacy for the release of Okolie. The public and the media believed him.
Like other numerous scandals he had been enmeshed in the last five years, Mr. Gwamnishu came out of the scandal unscratched. The public never knew what happened and activist Gwamnishu did not bother to update his numerous Facebook followers about how the case ended.
From a carefully choreographed resume that he flaunts on social media, his story appears like a grass-to-grace story of a hardworking young man who worked his way to fame and riches.
According to his profile, Gwamnishu claims he holds a Bachelor’s degree in peace and conflict resolution from Afriford University, Cotonou, Benin Republic, and a diploma in computer science from Lagos State University. He also claims another degree from Rutgers University, New Brunswick, New Jersey, United States in civic education.
The profile lists several companies started and managed by Gwamnishu, including being the chief executive of HarryTech Security, HarryTech Processing (ANIOMA GARRI), and HarryTech Rides. It also describes him as a human rights activist, philanthropist, and social media influencer.
However, SaharaReporters was able to fact-check most of his public claims about his past and source of livelihood and discovered a web of lies and criminal enterprise built over a period of five years intended to deceive the public and provide a platform to swindle hundreds of gullible Nigerians.
Indeed, Gwamnishu attended Atta boys secondary school, said a former colleague but dropped out of school. He took the West African Senior School Certificate Examination (WASSCE) in 2019 but allegedly hired a ‘mercenary’ to sit the examination for him. Secondly, there was no evidence that he attended Lagos State University while his engagement with Rutgers University was part of the annual Four Weeks Young Leaders of The Americas Initiative In 2017
If his claim to academic laurel appeared ridiculous, that of his business accomplishment was more bizarre. It takes a genius to build a large business empire consisting of four high-profile companies in less than 5 years.
But SaharaReporters’ findings indicate that these were phantom companies set up either to cover up his dubious enterprises or as a platform to scam innocent people.
At least 10 Nigerians who claimed to have been scammed by Gwamnishu, using Anioma Garri as a cover were identified.
In 2007, Gwamnishu in partnership with another activist Comrade Tom Ochada cofounded the Behind Bars Human Right Foundation, an NGO whose mission is to help indigent prisoners and detainees. Both directors were co-signatories to the bank account but unknown to Comrade Tom Ochada, Gwamnishu surreptitiously removed his phone number from the account, depriving him of the opportunity to monitor the cash movement in the account through bank SMS.
Gwamnishu allegedly struck up a romantic relationship with the bank account officer in charge of the organization’s account with whom he later had a child. On discovering the apparent fraud, Comrade Tom approached the bank and upon seeing that millions of naira that passed through the account without his knowledge, he petitioned the bank and the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
According to a letter seen by SaharaReporters which was signed by his lawyer, the account was closed down but not after Gwamnishu had withdrawn every kobo in it.
Another petition sent to the EFCC dated 2 November 2021 and signed by a legal firm LC Agbata and Co. was titled Dupe And Fraudulent Conversion Of N50m Property Of Behind Bars Initiative By Mr Harrison Gwamnishu. The petitioners urged the anti-graft body to investigate Mr Gwamnishu over financial crime and theft.
A scan across social media revealed a plethora of individuals who claimed to have been duped by Gwamnishu.
Some of the major cases are treated in details below:
In June 2011, Gwamnishu was arrested for robbery and remanded in prison custody where he spent his time between June 2011 and November 2015 in Kirikiri Maximum Prison, Lagos, and Ogwashi Uku prisons in Delta State. Police sources told SaharaReporters that he was arrested in June 2011 and charged with ‘conspiracy, unlawful possession of firearms, and armed robbery” after he was accused of robbing his former boss.
He was discharged and released from prison by an Asaba High Court in November 2015 for want of diligent prosecution. He insisted he was innocent and was merely set up by his former boss. A senior police officer who was familiar with his case however disagreed.
In March 2018, Gwamnishu claimed to have been diagnosed with kidney disease, announcing on his Facebook page that he needed N7 million to have a transplant surgery in India. He attached a photo showing him in a hospital bed taking drips. His bank account number was attached to the post. Thousands of his followers on social media responded with money donations and goodwill messages.
Among his social media followers who came to his aid was Hallmark Chibuzor Paul, a social media influencer.
In a post, he explained how he helped to raise money for Gwamnishu’s treatment only to realize it was a scam. He insisted that Gwamnishgu should return the money. A few days later, realizing that he had been caught Gwamnishu issued a well-crafted message, titled “Apology from my sick bed” apologizing for his action but insisting it was only an error of judgment and not a fraud.
In a related development, Gwamnishu in June 2017 faked his own kidnap. He shared photos of himself crying on Facebook alleging that he was accosted by criminals while returning from Agbor to Asaba, in Delta state, and robbed of about N200,000 cash. He claimed the hoodlums also held him hostage for hours and collected his ATM card after requesting his pin.
He said he was finally released after the money in his account was withdrawn and his phones and other valuables were collected. Two of his former associates and a police officer told SaharaReporters that his claim was false and the whole scheme was orchestrated by him to raise money for his trip to the United States shortly after he was nominated for the Nelson Mandela Fellowship. He raised millions of naira from the public on account of this.
