A coalition of local and international human rights and transparency organisations has raised alarm over what it describes as a “credible and imminent threat” to the life of detained Nigerian whistleblower, Nnamdi Emeh, who remains in custody despite being granted bail.
In a joint petition addressed to the Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, and copied to the Minister of Justice, Chief Lateef Fagbemi, and several other top government officials, the groups called for Emeh’s immediate release and protection.
According to the petition, Emeh’s father, Professor John Emeh, alleged that a weapon was recently smuggled into the Awka Correctional Centre, Anambra State, with instructions to provoke a fight during which his son would be assassinated.
“This is not the first attempt on Mr. Emeh’s life,” the petition stated. “Following his arrest in 2023, there was a previous assassination plot during a prison transfer, which was only averted after public outcry.”
Emeh, a former IT consultant for the Anambra State Rapid Response Squad, came into public attention after he allegedly leaked documents exposing extrajudicial killings, organ harvesting, and corruption within the Nigerian Police Force.
Following the leaks, he reportedly fled to the Benin Republic, where he was arrested on an Interpol Red Notice and extradited to Nigeria.
Since then, he has faced multiple charges, including unlawful possession of firearms, money laundering, fraud, and hacking allegations that the Red Notice Monitor described as “consistent with politically motivated charges often used to silence dissidents.”
Despite being granted bail by a Federal High Court in May 2023 and a subsequent court order for his release in May 2024, Emeh remains in detention. His family attributes this continued incarceration to alleged interference by the police.
Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, has yet to make public the findings of a panel established in February 2023 to investigate the grave allegations that Emeh originally exposed.
The signatories urged Nigerian authorities to: Immediately release Nnamdi Emeh in compliance with existing court orders, investigate the threats to his life and ensure his safety while in custody and after release and publicly release the findings of the police panel set up to probe his revelations.
They also called on the international community to “intervene diplomatically and publicly to protect Mr Emeh’s life and uphold the rights of whistleblowers in Nigeria and beyond.”
The petition was jointly signed by over 20 organisations, including Blueprint for Free Speech (International), Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (Nigeria), Whistleblowing International Network (International), Transparency International Ireland, Government Accountability Project (USA), and the Platform to Protect Whistleblowers in Africa (PPLAAF), among others.
Copies of the petition were sent to several foreign missions in Nigeria, including the Australian, British, and German embassies.
For more information, the petition advised media and concerned parties to contact Blueprint for Free Speech via: [email protected]
