Nigerian whistleblower Nnamdi Emeh may spend Christmas behind bars
Image supplied, courtesy of John Kanu Emeh
Nigerian whistleblower Nnamdi Emeh was unable to accept his trophy as winner of a 2025 Blueprint Africa Whistleblowing Prize. Instead, he was led shackled into the Federal High Court in Awka, Anambra State this week, only to have his case postponed again until April next year.
Emeh was an IT consultant at a police unit in Nigeria, the Anambra State Rapid Response Squad, who specialised in tracking high-profile criminals. He was arrested in March 2023 on what have widely been described as trumped up charges after he was linked to an anonymous leak of information about alleged corruption, extrajudicial killings and organ harvesting by Nigerian police officials.
The Inspector General of Police immediately launched an investigation into the allegations, but the results have never been publicly released.
Despite being granted bail in May 2023 and a subsequent court order for his release in May 2024, Emeh remains behind bars at Awka Correctional Centre. According to his family and legal representative, this was due to interference by the police and obstructive behaviour by court officials.
After one judge passed away and another was transferred, the case was allocated in November 2024 to Justice Evelyn Anyadike, who presided over Emeh’s latest court appearance this week, on 9 December. His defence attorney, Justus Ijeoma, again raised the issue of Emeh’s bail not being honoured.
“We drew the attention of the court to the subsisting bail earlier granted to the defendant by her late learned brother, Honourable Justice Riman, and that we intend to put machinery in motion to perfect the bail,” Ijeoma said. “The court assured us that once we’re able to that, she will sign the release warrant. The court also directed the prosecution to bring all their witnesses to court on the next adjourned date, 14 April 2026, for continuation of hearing.”
Emeh’s case has drawn worldwide attention to the plight of whistleblowers in Nigeria.
In October Blueprint received information that Emeh’s life was in danger after a weapon was smuggled into the prison where he is currently being detained. According to Nnamdi’s father, Professor John Kanu Emeh, the weapon was smuggled into the prison with instructions to provoke a fight and assassinate Nnamdi during the altercation.
Subsequent to this, Blueprint for Free Speech and twenty other NGOs from around the world issued an open letter calling for Emeh’s immediate release in accordance with court orders, an investigation into the threats and for the authorities to ensure his safety while in custody and upon his release, and for the Inspector General of Police to publicly release the findings of its investigation.
These actions appear to be having an impact. Last month Blueprint was informed by the National Human Rights Commission that a complaint has been registered and referred to the Commission State office in Anambra for preliminary investigation. Meanwhile, the public outcry at Emeh’s continued incarceration despite being granted bail has grown in Nigeria, and this week saw the launch of the Twitter/X campaign #FreeNnamdiEmeh.
According to Professor Emeh, Nnamdi’s father, from information leaked to him earlier this week “it appears that the petition to key Nigerian government officials, the global whistleblower award and recent media coverage championed by Blueprint for Free Speech are bearing fruit. Apparently orders came from above that his safety must be ensured by local prison staff. So it appears my son is being accorded more dignity.”
Nnamdi Emeh is being jointly supported by Blueprint for Free Speech and
The Platform to Protect Whistleblowers in Africa (PPLAAF)