A months-long investigation by Sahara Reporters has uncovered the shocking and elaborate criminal network built by 34-year-old Harrison Gwamnishu — a man who for years sold himself to the Nigerian public as a lawyer, human rights activist, philanthropist, and serial entrepreneur. Behind that carefully-curated façade, however, lies a troubling history of fraud, criminal activity, occultism, and manipulation, according to dozens of victims, former associates, and police officers interviewed.
A Decade of Carefully Packaged Lies
Sahara Reporters’ investigation revealed that Harrison, a secondary-school dropout, has spent years posing as a graduate, lawyer, and human rights advocate while allegedly duping hundreds of unsuspecting followers on Facebook and Instagram of millions of naira.
Some of the troubling findings include:
- Spent four years in Kirikiri Medium Prison and Ogwashi-Uku Prison over a robbery case
- Once led an attack on a police station to free a cult member
- Ongoing divorce case over alleged serial wife-battery and infidelity
- Several children from extramarital affairs
- Victims unwilling to speak publicly due to fear of his alleged use of cult groups and African magic
- Numerous cases of fraud disguised as humanitarian donations
- Contested and lost the 2023 Delta State House of Assembly election on the Labour Party platform
How His Latest Troubles Began
In December 2020, tragedy struck around General Road in Asaba when a stray bullet from Operation Delta Hawk operatives killed a petty trader, Amaka Ohanaja. The incident occurred weeks after the #EndSARS protests, heightening public tension.
Sensing an opportunity, Gwamnishu mobilised his over 260,000 followers for a protest march to Government House. As crowds swelled, the Delta State Government panicked and invited the protest leaders for dialogue.
Gwamnishu insisted on going alone.
According to insiders, the state government approved N5 million for the Ohanaja family and another N5 million for Gwamnishu himself as “facilitation.” The full N10 million was allegedly transferred into his personal account, while he informed the grieving family that the government was still reviewing their case.
The Domino Effect
Months later, in 2021, when the story of Gloria Okolie, a student detained and abused by police in Owerri, went viral, Gwamnishu again positioned himself at the centre of public outrage. He reportedly raised over N5 million in donations.
Angry officers, upset by the backlash triggered by his advocacy, allegedly tipped off the Ohanaja family that the activist had hidden the N5 million meant for them. The family petitioned the police, leading to a letter inviting Gwamnishu for questioning. He immediately went online to claim that the police were trying to frame him for murder, gaining public sympathy and successfully diverting attention from the allegations.
A Lifestyle Built on Social Media Manipulation
Despite projecting himself as a humanitarian, sources say Gwamnishu lived a flamboyant lifestyle—luxury cars, nightlife, and constant travel. Former associates describe him as a “smooth operator” who used humanitarian cases to raise money but diverted most proceeds for personal use.
He allegedly:
- Posed as a lawyer to win trust
- Used occult groups and native doctors for intimidation
- Built a network of fraudulent companies including HarryTech Security, HarryTech Processing (makers of Anioma Garri), and HarryTech Rides
Most of these entities, according to SR’s findings, were fronts for extortion, fake investments, and romance-based scams.
Dissecting His False Credentials
Fact-checking his academic claims revealed:
- No record of attendance at Lagos State University
- His “Rutgers University” claim was merely a four-week exchange programme
- His alleged Bachelor’s Degree from Afriford University (Benin Republic) has no verifiable evidence
- He hired mercenaries to write WAEC for him in 2019
Scams, Forgery & Endless Petitions
Sahara Reporters sighted multiple petitions from victims, banks, and lawyers:
- A petition to EFCC accusing him of diverting N50 million belonging to Behind Bars Initiative
- Allegations that he secretly removed co-founder Tom Ochada’s phone number from their NGO bank account to hide withdrawals
- Claims he impregnated the bank officer managing the NGO’s account
- Multiple individuals reporting losses from his Anioma Garri investment scheme, which promised huge ROI but collapsed like a Ponzi setup
A Pattern of Criminal Behaviour
Police sources detailed his involvement in:
- Robbery charges (2011–2015)
- Faking a kidney disease to raise N7 million in donations
- Faking his own kidnapping in 2017 to raise money for travel
- Kidnapping a young man (Favour Ogboe) after previously helping him recover bribe money from the police
- Presenting fake vehicle documents and converting victims’ properties for personal use
A senior police officer described him as “one of the most talented conmen Nigeria has produced.”
Conclusion
For years, Harrison Gwamnishu built an empire on sympathy, desperation, and the trust of Nigerians searching for justice in a broken system. Sahara Reporters’ investigation reveals a man who weaponised activism, twisted humanitarian crises into personal cash machines, and used fear, charm, and deceit to stay ahead of law enforcement.
Despite the numerous scandals, Gwamnishu has consistently avoided consequences — but victims and insiders believe that his long-running web of lies may finally be unravelling.
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