A coalition of local and international human rights organisations has raised alarm over a “credible and imminent threat” to the life of Nigerian whistleblower Nnamdi Emeh, who remains imprisoned despite multiple court orders granting him bail.

The coalition’s warning was sent in a letter jointly addressed to key officials, including the Controller-General of the Nigerian Correctional Service, Sylvester Ndidi Nwakuche, and the Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi. Copies were also sent to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yusuf Maitama Tuggar, the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, and the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission, Dr. Tony Ojukwu.

According to the coalition, Emeh’s continued detention exposes him to grave danger. His father, Prof John Emeh, revealed that a weapon was reportedly smuggled into the Awka Correctional Centre, Anambra State, with instructions to “provoke a fight and assassinate Nnamdi during the altercation.” The statement noted this is not the first attempt on his life; a prior assassination plot during a prison transfer in 2023 was only averted after public outcry.

Emeh, a former IT consultant for the Anambra State Rapid Response Squad, became a whistleblower after exposing alleged extrajudicial killings, organ harvesting, and corruption within the Nigerian Police Force. He was later arrested in Benin under an Interpol Red Notice and repatriated to Nigeria, where he faced charges including unlawful possession of firearms, money laundering, fraud, and hacking — charges described by watchdog Red Notice Monitor as politically motivated.

Despite a Federal High Court granting bail in May 2023 and a further release order in May 2024, Emeh remains in custody, with his family citing police interference. Meanwhile, the Inspector-General of Police has not published the findings of a panel investigating the allegations Emeh revealed.

The coalition — which includes Blueprint for Free Speech, Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre, Whistleblowing International Network, African Centre for Media & Information Literacy, Transparency International Ireland, and Government Accountability Project (USA) — called for:

• Immediate release of Nnamdi Emeh in compliance with court orders.
• A thorough investigation into threats against his life and measures to ensure his safety.
• Public release of findings from the IGP’s investigative panel.

The group also appealed to the international community, including diplomatic missions from Australia, the UK, and Germany, to intervene and safeguard Emeh’s life.

“We urge 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 statement concluded.