The Nigeria Police Force has declared a British national, Andrew Wynne, and a Nigerian, Lucky Obiyan, wanted for allegedly plotting to overthrow the democratically elected government of President Bola Tinubu.
Speaking to journalists in Abuja on Monday, the Force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, revealed that Wynne, also known by the aliases Andrew Povich or Drew Povey, had been accused of building a network of sleeper cells aimed at creating chaos and ultimately toppling the government.
“The Nigeria Police Force has launched a comprehensive investigation into the activities of foreign national and subversive elements plotting to undermine the democratically elected government in Nigeria through unconstitutional regime change and orchestrating violence across the country,” Adejobi stated.
The police spokesperson disclosed that nine suspects had already been apprehended in connection with the plot, all of whom allegedly received substantial financial backing from foreign sources to destabilize the country. According to Adejobi, these individuals were involved in orchestrating and funding violent protests, disseminating false information, and engaging in other unlawful activities designed to create anarchy and justify their illegal plot.
“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,” Adejobi explained.
Adejobi further revealed that Andrew Wynne had established a base of operations in Abuja, renting a space at Labour House for an “Iva Valley Bookshop” and setting up “STARS of Nations Schools” as a cover for his subversive activities. However, Wynne and his local coordinator, Obiyan, have since fled the country.
“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,” Adejobi said.
The spokesperson also mentioned that documentary evidence and confessions from the suspects revealed that Wynne provided financial and operational guidance to facilitate the alleged plot to overthrow the government. This included mobilizing several billions of naira to Nigerian collaborators and urging them to incite the public to violently storm police facilities and military barracks, anticipating a bloodbath that would draw international condemnation of the Nigerian government.
“These acts are in clear violation of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2011 and other relevant laws,” Adejobi added.
