The Nigeria Police have declared a British national, Andrew Wynne, wanted for allegedly trying to overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Wynne is accused of sponsoring the EndBadGovernance protests that took place in Nigeria from August 1st to 10th, 2024.
According to the Nigerian Police Authority, Wynne has fled the country since the investigations began.
The Nigerian Police Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Muyiwa Adejobi, said, “Since the commencement of investigations, Andrew Wynne has fled the country. He and one of his local coordinators, one Lucky Ehis Obiyan, have accordingly been declared wanted, and global hunting for them has commenced in connection with this investigation.”
The announcement came amid ongoing investigations into the protests, which have led to the arrest of nine suspects who are accused of receiving financial support from foreign sources to destabilize the country.
ACP Adejobi explained, “Following extensive intelligence gathering and collaboration with other security agencies, nine suspects have been apprehended, who received substantial financial backing from foreign sources to destabilize the country.”
He added, “Preliminary findings suggest they orchestrated and funded violent protests, disseminated false information, and engaged in other unlawful activities to create anarchy and justify their illegal plot to overthrow the democratically elected government.”
The police have identified Wynne, also known as Andrew Povich or Drew Povey, as the mastermind behind the alleged plan. ACP Adejobi stated, “Investigations have identified a foreign mercenary, Andrew Wynne (also known as Andrew Povich or Drew Povey), a British national, who built a network of sleeper cells to topple the government and plunge the nation into chaos.”
Wynne allegedly rented a space at Labour House in Abuja for an ‘Iva Valley Bookshop’ and established ‘STARS of Nations Schools’ as a cover for his activities. “Documentary evidence and confessions revealed that Andrew Wynne issued directives, monitored progress, and provided finance and operational guidance to achieve unconstitutional regime change in Nigeria,” ACP Adejobi said. “He mobilized and deployed several billions of naira to his Nigerian collaborators, urging them to mobilize the public to violently storm police facilities and military barracks, anticipating a bloodbath that would instigate international condemnation of the Nigerian government.”
The police stressed that Wynne’s actions violate the Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2011 and other relevant laws. The suspects arrested include Angel Love Innocent, Opaluwa Eleojo Simeon, Michael Tobitoba Adaramoye, Suleiman Yakubu, Buhari Lawal, Mosiu Sadiq, Abayomi Adeyemi, Abdulsalam Zubairu, Nuradeen Hamis, and Bashir Bello. They have been arraigned on charges including Criminal Conspiracy, Terrorism Financing, Treasonable Felony, Subversion, and Cybercrime.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, has activated INTERPOL tools and other global policing networks to help locate and arrest the suspects at large. “The IGP assures the general public that the Force will leave no stone unturned in dealing with and bringing to deserved justice any individual or group threatening our national security and peace or promoting any movement with the motive of truncating our democratic government through unconstitutional means,” Adejobi said.
He also reminded citizens of their rights, stating, “We recognize and remain committed to protecting citizens’ constitutionally guaranteed fundamental and democratic rights to peaceful assembly and free expression. However, we advise citizens to be wary of subversive elements who weaponize and commercialize protests for personal financial and ideological benefits.”
