Story Highlights
Human rights activist Harrison Gwamnishu clarified in early January 2026 that a ₦600,000 donation meant for a sick boy named Stephen was fully utilized for medical expenses and transport during a rescue mission in May 2025. The activist stated the female donor demanded a refund after he prioritized the victim’s health over arresting the indicted cleric in Cross River State.
Harrison Gwamnishu has publicly addressed allegations concerning the misappropriation of a ₦600,000 donation intended for the medical rescue of a critically ill young man.
The activist released a video statement to debunk claims that he diverted funds meant for the victim, identified as Stephen. Gwamnishu explained that the money came from a female donor who reached out after he highlighted Stephen’s dire situation online in May 2025.
This clarification emerges as the activist faces a wave of online scrutiny. Recently, VeryDarkMan admitted reporting Harrison Gwamnishu to Edo Police, intensifying public interest in Gwamnishu’s past and present handling of casework.
The Stephen rescue mission
According to Gwamnishu, the case began when Stephen’s sister, Sarah, contacted him regarding her brother’s unlawful detention. Sarah alleged that their father had used Stephen as collateral to secure a loan from a cleric in Cross River State.
The situation turned critical when the cleric reportedly refused to release the boy until the debt was settled, despite Stephen suffering from a severe leg infection. Gwamnishu shared graphic evidence of the injury to validate the urgency of the intervention.
The activist facilitated the logistics to move Stephen’s mother from Kano to Cross River and eventually transported the boy to a hospital in Calabar for emergency care. He noted that the distance and security risks on the roads made the operation expensive and complex.
Disagreement over prosecution
Tension arose when the donor expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome of the intervention. Gwamnishu revealed that the woman insisted on the immediate arrest and prosecution of the cleric responsible for holding the boy.
The activist, however, prioritized the victim’s immediate medical needs over a lengthy police case. He explained that the funds were exhausted on transportation, hospital bills, and logistics, leaving no balance to return.
Gwamnishu maintained that the donation was spent in good faith to save a life. This defense comes at a time when legal pressures are mounting; just last month, Harrison Gwamnishu secured bail in Edo High Court following separate legal challenges.
To ensure transparency, the activist shared the contact details of the victim’s sister, Sarah, encouraging skeptics to verify the timeline and the usage of funds directly with the family.
