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.
A Delta State-based, self-acclaimed human rights activist, Harrison Gwamnishu, who was accused of defrauding several victims of millions of naira in his fake activism bid has admitted to receiving “gifts” from former 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 had 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 revealed.
SaharaReporters had spoken to several people including his former associates and security agents who are conversant with Mr. Gwamnishu’s mode of operation.
From Fraud, wife battering, ID theft, to forgery, and robbery, they alleged that these were just a few of the crimes he had been accused of perpetrating over a decade.
SaharaReporters had also learnt 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.
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 obtained more evidences proving that he actually 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 Owerri 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 sex slave.
The family contacted Gwamnishu who blew the story to the public and media in his characteristic manner. His popularity rose. The Nigerian public reacted in anger to the consternation of the police. 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 cornered the N5 million 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 are 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 want to hang a case of murder on him because of his advocacy for the release of Gloria 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. But this is just the tip of the iceberg.
For years, Gwamnishu lived his fantasy life driving luxury cars, spending thousands on women, and frolicking in night clubs across Asaba, Onitsha, and Abuja while Cleverly and convincingly masquerading himself as a kind-hearted philanthropist and human rights activist, convincing people to part with millions of naira to help a dying , abandoned old woman or victim of police abuse