Activist Harrison Gwamnishu’s lawyer on Friday shared fresh details defending him amid growing allegations of ransom diversion in Edo State.
The lawyer explained that Gwamnishu used “prototype” notes embedded with tracking chips for ransom payments. He said he temporarily replaced real cash before handing ransom to kidnappers, then planned to return the removed sum to the family after the rescue.
Moreover, the lawyer claimed that during the ransom handover in the bush, masked kidnappers took the money and released only the pregnant victim. The abducted husband stayed captive, the lawyer said, because the kidnappers alleged the ransom was incomplete.
Then, according to the lawyer, Gwamnishu took the allegedly removed money to the police station in Auchi before leaving town. He also went to the Edo State Police Command in Benin the next day and offered the full funds to officers.
The statement further said that police later asked him to simulate the money return for photographic evidence, a request he rejected. They then prepared a search warrant claiming the cash came from his hotel room. However, the lawyer insisted that the warrant lacked legitimacy and refused to sign it.
Nevertheless, critics claim Gwamnishu remitted ₦5.4 million short of the ₦20 million ransom. Meanwhile, some remain skeptical about the tracking-chip explanation, urging full audit of all transactions and donor funds.
For now, Edo State police have not publicly confirmed either version. Observers warn that unclear procedures around ransom-handling involve serious transparency risks.
Still, Gwamnishu’s lawyer insists the activist acted to save lives—not to enrich himself. He urged authorities and the public to verify all facts before judging.
