Fresh complications have emerged in the ongoing controversy surrounding human rights activist, Harrison Gwamnishu, as new claims attributed to his lawyer deepen public debate over a ransom-delivery operation in Edo State.

The latest development surfaced after Ossai Ovie Success, Senior Special Assistant to the Delta State Governor, published a detailed account on his Facebook page reportedly originating from Gwamnishu’s legal team.

This comes amid widespread social media uproar involving accusations, counter-accusations, and unverified confessions alleging that the activist diverted ransom funds meant for the rescue of kidnapped victims.

SEE ALSO: Army Arrests Four Kidnappers in Edo

Background of the Allegations

Since Thursday, social media particularly X (formerly Twitter) has been dominated by claims that Gwamnishu “absconded” with part of a ransom paid for the release of a pregnant woman and her husband kidnapped in Edo State.

A relative of the victims had accused him of withholding a portion of the money, fueling intense criticism online.

Gwamnishu, however, denied the allegations, insisting he voluntarily turned himself in to the police.

His rebuttal did little to quell the growing storm as some users demanded his prosecution while others alleged a politically motivated smear campaign.

Lawyer Provides Fresh Narrative

According to the account shared by Ossai, the lawyer explained that Gwamnishu’s rescue strategy involves mixing real ransom cash with prototype notes containing a tracking chip. The chip, he claimed, cannot be inserted into actual currency, hence the temporary replacement.

He further claimed, the removed cash is usually returned to the victim’s family after a successful operation.

A family member present during the cash preparation later denied witnessing the process.

During the midnight ransom drop, masked kidnappers collected the money and released only the pregnant woman, leaving her husband in captivity.

The lawyer added that after the operation, Gwamnishu accompanied the family to the Auchi Police Station where he allegedly explained the reduced amount and handed the removed cash to the police before leaving town.

He reportedly returned to the Edo State Police Command in Benin on his own for further clarification.

The statement alleged police officers asked him to “act as though he was returning the money” for photographic evidence.

A search warrant was then allegedly drafted to suggest the cash was recovered from his hotel room something the lawyer claims Gwamnishu rejected, leading to his detention. He also denied reports of a supposed 14-day detention order.

Concerns Over Police Actions and Public Reactions

The lawyer insisted the tracking chip inside the prototype money remains active and that Gwamnishu is willing to help police locate the kidnappers and rescue the remaining victim.

He questioned why public attention had shifted to attacking the activist instead of pursuing the abductors, noting that the disputed N5.4 million was already in police custody.

The statement also hinted at possible “bad blood” between Gwamnishu and some influential individuals, suggesting the controversy may be amplified by past disputes.

While acknowledging his previous controversies, it cautioned against condemning him without due legal process.

It further criticised increasing reliance on private citizens during kidnap negotiations while security agencies allegedly stay on the sidelines.

The lawyer blamed the victims’ family for prioritising online narratives over supporting rescue efforts, warning Gwamnishu not to return to the bush due to safety concerns and insisting the police take full charge of the operation.

As of the time of filing this report, efforts to obtain an official reaction from the Edo State Police Command had been unsuccessful.