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Akinwande Soji-Ojo
A Federal High Court sitting in Abuja has issued a warrant of arrest against Andrew Wynne, a Briton declared wanted over alleged treason and terrorism.
Justice Emeka Nwite issued the warrant on Tuesday while ruling on an ex-parte motion filed by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP), Dr Kayode Egbetokun.
Moving the application, police counsel, Audu Garba, prayed the court to issue an arrest warrant against Wynne, also known as Andrew Povich, Lucky Ehis Obiyan, and Abdullahi Musa.
He told the court that the defendants are wanted for conspiracy, treason, inciting to mutiny, disaffection from the government and terrorism, among others, contrary to sections 97, 410, 413, 416, and 412 of the Penal Code, Northern States Federal Provisions Act CAP P3 LFN 2004.
The affidavit in support of the motion said investigations conducted revealed that the fleeing defendants were allegedly responsible for planning and coordination of the invasion and burning down of the high court complex, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) office, and the printing press in Kano during the #EndBadGovernance protest.
The defendants were also alleged to be responsible for the attack on Kano State Government House, Kaduna Investment and Promotions Agency’s office, National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) office, and several other buildings in August.
Garba said granting the application would enable police officers within the country and other security agencies to use their mechanisms to secure the lawful arrest of the defendants.
Ruling on the application, Nwite granted the application, describing it as “meritorious.”
During a press briefing in Abuja on Monday, , Force spokesperson, CP Muyiwa Adejobi, accused Wynne of building a “network of sleeper cells to topple the government and plunge the nation into chaos.”
Adejobi said the Briton rented a space at the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) headquarters in Abuja for “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, and provided finance and operational guidance to achieve unconstitutional regime change in Nigeria.
“He mobilised and deployed several billions of naira to his Nigerian collaborators, urging them to mobilise 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,” Force spokesperson added.
