Police declare British national wanted for planning to overthrow Tinubu
By Emeka Okoroanyanwu
The Nigeria Police Force has declared a British national, Andrew Wynne wanted for attempting to overthrow the government of President Ahmed Tinubu through undemocratic means.
The Police in a release today by Force Public Relations Officer, ACP Olumuyiwa Adejobi said it has launched a comprehensive investigation into the activities of Wynne and other subversive elements plotting to undermine the democratically elected government in Nigeria through unconstitutional regime change and orchestrating violence across the country.
According to Adejobi, the discovery followed an extensive intelligence gathering and collaboration with other security agencies which resulted in the arrest of nine suspects who allegedly received substantial financial backing from foreign sources to destabilize the country.
Preliminary findings said the Police, suggested the planners 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.
Adejobi said, “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.
” He rented a space at Labour House, Abuja, for an ‘Iva Valley Bookshop’ and established ‘STARS of Nations Schools’ as a cover for his subversive activities.
” Documentary evidence and confessions revealed that Andrew Wynne issued directives, monitored progress, provided finance and operational guidance to achieve unconstitutional regime change in Nigeria. 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 will instigate international condemnation of the Nigerian government. These acts are in clear violation of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2011 and other relevant laws.”
The Police informed that since the commencement of investigations, Andrew Wynne and his local coordinators have fled the country and have been declared wanted while global hunting for them has commenced in connection with the investigation.
The nine other suspects, the Police said, have already been apprehended and arraigned before a competent court of law today, Monday, September 2, 2024, for Criminal Conspiracy, Terrorism Financing, Treasonable Felony, Subversion, and Cybercrime.
The Police said the acts are in clear violation of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2011 and other relevant laws.
The Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode Adeolu Egbetokun, while condemning the activities of the group, has activated the INTERPOL tools and other global policing networks to support ongoing domestic investigations aimed at locating and apprehending the suspects at large.
The IGP assured the general public that the Force will leave no stone unturned in dealing with, and bringing to deserved justice, any individual or group threatening the country’s security and peace or promoting any movement with the motive of truncating its democratic government through unconstitutional means.
The Force said it recognizes and remain committed to protecting citizens’ constitutionally guaranteed fundamental and democratic rights to peaceful assembly and free expression, advising citizens to be wary of subversive elements who weaponize and commercialize protests for personal financial and ideological benefits.
The Police said, contrary to disinformation, the invitation extended to certain individuals within the NLC leadership has nothing to do with rights advocacy and activities of the Union leadership but aimed at clearing the relationship of the individuals and Andrew Wynne who in addition to plotting unconstitutional regime change is also financing terrorism in Nigeria.
“Following the interaction between the police investigation team and the NLC President, there is now a clearer understanding of the focus of the ongoing police investigation and the depth of Andrew Wynne’s subversive network and activities,” the Police said, noting that no nation would tolerate attempts by foreign elements to interfere in its internal affairs, threaten national security and organize and fund local elements to instigate uprisings aimed at destabilizing the country and engendering violent and unconstitutional regime change.
The Inspector-General of Police, therefore, appealed for cooperation and support of all law abiding citizens in the ongoing investigation. He assured any one with information leading to the arrest of any of the suspects declared wanted to be appreciated and rewarded handsomely.