The Nigerian Police Monday, unveiled the identity of a British citizen, Andrew Wynne, who was surreptitiously plotting to topple the democratically elected president of Nigeria, Bola Tinubu.
The police also said that documentary evidence and confessions revealed that Wynne issued directives, monitored progress, and provided finance and operational guidance to achieve unconstitutional regime change in Nigeria.
The police therefore declared him wanted alongside his local coordinator, one Lucky Ehis Obiyan from Edo State, adding that a global manhunt for the anarchists has since commenced in connection with the ongoing investigation.
Addressing a press conference in Abuja on Monday, the Force PRO, Olumuyiwa Adejobi, an Assistant Commissioner of Police, said that investigations have identified a foreign mercenary, 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.
According to Adejobi, “The police have launched a comprehensive investigation into the activities of the foreign national and subversive elements plotting to undermine the democratically elected government in Nigeria through unconstitutional regime change and orchestrating violence across the country.”
He revealed that 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,” he said.
Adejobi noted that Wynne 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, adding that Wynne 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.
He said these acts are in clear violation of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2011 and other relevant laws.
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 ten 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. They include Angel Love Innocent (F), Opaluwa Eleojo Simeon (M), Michael Tobitoba Adaramoye AKA Leni (M), Suleiman Yakubu (M), Buhari Lawal (M), Mosiu Sadiq (M), Abayomi Adeyemi (M), Abdulsalam Zubairu (M), Nuradeen Hamis (M), and Bashir Bello (M). These acts are in clear violation of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2011 and other relevant laws.”
Meanwhile, the Inspector General (IG) of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, while condemning the activities of the group, has since activated the INTERPOL tools and other global policing networks to support ongoing domestic investigations aimed at locating and apprehending the suspects at large.
Thisday
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