Nigeria Police Declares Briton, Another Wanted Over Plot To Topple Tinubu’s Government

By Ayodele Oni

• Arraign Nine

The Nigeria Police Force has launched a comprehensive investigation into the activities of a foreign national over alleged plot to overthrow the Government of President Bola Tinubu.

The Force stated on Monday that “investigations identified a foreign mercenary, Andrew Wynne, also known as Andrew Povich or Drew Povey, a British national, of a plot to throw President Tinubu out of office.

According tk the Police, the Briton has built a network of sleeper cells to topple the government and plunge the nation into chaos.

Said the NPF: “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.”

Force spokesman, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, at a media briefing in Abuja on Monday, stated that the Briton and subversive elements are plotting to undermine

the democratically elected Government in Nigeria through unconstitutional regime change and orchestrating violence across the country.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“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 nine other suspects already apprehended have been arraigned before a competent court of law today, Monday, September 2, 2024, for Criminal Conspiracy, Terrorism Financing, Treasonable Felony, Subversion, and Cybercrime.

“These acts are in clear  violation of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2011 and other relevant laws.

Adejobi announced that the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Kayode  Egbetokun, 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 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.

“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.”

Recall that the Police raided the National Headquarters of the NLC on August 8, 2024 and went away with documents and more. While not a few Nigerians were shocked at the raid, the Police said the NLC was not the target but a suspected  foreign terrorist who is a tenant at the NLC Headquarters.

But on August 19, 2024, the Police Authorities invited the President of the NLC, Joe Ajaero, on very serious allegations   of treasonable felony, terrorism financing, terrorism, subversion, criminal conspiracy and cybercrime.

Ajaero in a letter on his behalf by his Lawyer, Femi Falana, rejected the August 20 invitation and picked August 29.

However, the visit on August 29 turned out an anti- climax as none of the serious allegations was brought up by the Police. They, only, asked about NLC’s foreign tenant and let Ajaero go in less than two hours.

But about 24 hours later, the Police extended another invitation again to Ajaero against September 5, 2024.

Apparently, the foreign tenant is likely to be Wynne who the Police has now declared wanted.