Abuja, Nigeria – The Nigerian Police spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi had in a press briefing held on Monday 1 September 2024, accused Andrew Wynne, a foreign national, of orchestrating a network of sleeper cells aimed at inciting chaos and disrupting the Nigerian government. Adejobi revealed that nine suspects have already been arrested, having received substantial foreign financial support to destabilize the country.
According to Adejobi, these suspects were involved in organizing and funding violent protests, spreading false information, and engaging in other illegal activities to justify their efforts to overthrow the government. “The Nigeria Police Force has launched a comprehensive investigation into the activities of foreign nationals and subversive elements plotting to undermine the democratically elected government in Nigeria through unconstitutional regime change and orchestrating violence across the country,” Adejobi stated.
He further explained that the investigation, which involved extensive intelligence gathering and collaboration with other security agencies, led to the apprehension of nine suspects who received significant financial backing from foreign sources. “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 added.
The investigation identified Andrew Wynne, also known as Andrew Povich or Drew Povey, as the mastermind behind these efforts. Wynne, along with his Nigerian associate, Lucky Ehis Obiyan, has fled the country. Both men have been declared wanted, and an international search is underway to locate them.
Adejobi disclosed 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. “Since the commencement of investigations, Andrew Wynne has fled the country. He and one of his local coordinators, Lucky Ehis Obiyan, have accordingly been declared wanted, and a global hunt for them has commenced in connection with this investigation,” he said.
He also stated that Wynne provided financial resources and operational instructions to overthrow the government, mobilizing billions of naira to encourage public violence against police stations and military facilities. “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. 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. These acts are in clear violation of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2011 and other relevant laws,” Adejobi concluded.
The police have assured the public that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the suspects and bring them to justice.
Protest Is Not Treason – Wynne Replies Nigerian Government
Andrew Wynne has in response charged the Nigerian government not to treat protests as treason.
Wynne made this known while reacting to the Police’s allegation of building a network of sleeper cells to topple Bola Tinubu administration.
Povey asked the government to release the detainees, saying, “PROTEST IS NOT TREASON – release all the detainees! He said the mass protests over #EndBadGovernance and #EndHunger frightened the government.
“But the government turned to repression rather than addressing the people’s demands. Perhaps 40 people were murdered by the police and other security forces, thousands were arrested and many still remain in captivity, he added.
“In Abuja, the authorities have attacked the so-called leaders and organisers of the protests. Ten people face ridiculous charges including treason, mutiny and levying war against the state, he argued.
Abuja, Nigeria – The Nigerian Police spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi had in a press briefing held on Monday 1 September 2024, accused Andrew Wynne, a foreign national, of orchestrating a network of sleeper cells aimed at inciting chaos and disrupting the Nigerian government. Adejobi revealed that nine suspects have already been arrested, having received substantial foreign financial support to destabilize the country.
According to Adejobi, these suspects were involved in organizing and funding violent protests, spreading false information, and engaging in other illegal activities to justify their efforts to overthrow the government. “The Nigeria Police Force has launched a comprehensive investigation into the activities of foreign nationals and subversive elements plotting to undermine the democratically elected government in Nigeria through unconstitutional regime change and orchestrating violence across the country,” Adejobi stated.
He further explained that the investigation, which involved extensive intelligence gathering and collaboration with other security agencies, led to the apprehension of nine suspects who received significant financial backing from foreign sources. “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 added.
The investigation identified Andrew Wynne, also known as Andrew Povich or Drew Povey, as the mastermind behind these efforts. Wynne, along with his Nigerian associate, Lucky Ehis Obiyan, has fled the country. Both men have been declared wanted, and an international search is underway to locate them.
Adejobi disclosed 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. “Since the commencement of investigations, Andrew Wynne has fled the country. He and one of his local coordinators, Lucky Ehis Obiyan, have accordingly been declared wanted, and a global hunt for them has commenced in connection with this investigation,” he said.
He also stated that Wynne provided financial resources and operational instructions to overthrow the government, mobilizing billions of naira to encourage public violence against police stations and military facilities. “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. 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. These acts are in clear violation of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2011 and other relevant laws,” Adejobi concluded.
The police have assured the public that efforts are ongoing to apprehend the suspects and bring them to justice.
Protest Is Not Treason – Wynne Replies Nigerian Government
Andrew Wynne has in response charged the Nigerian government not to treat protests as treason.
Wynne made this known while reacting to the Police’s allegation of building a network of sleeper cells to topple Bola Tinubu administration.
Povey asked the government to release the detainees, saying, “PROTEST IS NOT TREASON – release all the detainees! He said the mass protests over #EndBadGovernance and #EndHunger frightened the government.
“But the government turned to repression rather than addressing the people’s demands. Perhaps 40 people were murdered by the police and other security forces, thousands were arrested and many still remain in captivity, he added.
“In Abuja, the authorities have attacked the so-called leaders and organisers of the protests. Ten people face ridiculous charges including treason, mutiny and levying war against the state, he argued.