FG Place N20 Million Bounty on Briton Who Plotted To Overthrow Govt; The Briton Replies Himself

The Nigerian Police Force intensified efforts to arrest the British national, Andrew Povey Wynne, who it claims, together with a Nigerian citizen, Lucky Ehis Obiyan, plotted to use the #EndBadGovernance protests in August to topple the regime of President Bola Tinubu.

In a statement released Monday, the Police said they were offering up to N10 million each for information leading to the capture of the suspects, bringing the bounty to a total of N20 million. It asked anyone with useful information to contact the nearest police station or alternatively call the following mobile phone numbers: 08035179870, 09133333785, or 09133333786.

Police earlier suggested that at least the Briton may have escaped the country, and a global manhunt for him was underway.

According to the police, Wynne and Obiyan were wanted following an investigation into their alleged involvement in subversive activities aimed at destabilizing the country and overthrowing the constitutional order using last month’s protests as a decoy.

Mr. Wynne Replies

But in response to these grievous allegations, Mr Wynne, far from being on the run, has boldly responded to the government. A statement written on the letterhead of his bookshop, STARS of Nations Schools bookshop, which Police said he used as a cover for his subversive activities, criticized the Nigerian government’s handling of the #EndBadGovernance protests. 

He told the government that the protests were a legitimate expression of public dissatisfaction with its policies, but rather than “addressing the people’s demands,” the government “turned to repression.“

Wynne also claimed security forces killed around 40 people during the protests and detained thousands more. He mocked the government for taking “comrades” to court to face “ridiculous charges” with no “tangible evidence.”

The Briton, who seems to be originally Russian, further suggested that even the current police investigations are being boggled due to undue political interference, saying, “There appears to be a conflict between the government and the police investigating this case.”

As the investigation continues, the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has also come under scrutiny, with its President, Joe Ajaero, facing potential charges related to the case. The NLC’s involvement may just be that it rented a shop to STARS of Nations Schools bookshop in its Labour House in Abuja.

NLC absolved itself from the protests but condemned the alleged government’s highhandedness and brutal suppression of the people’s legitimate cries.

However, questions remain about the motivation of this non-citizen, a Russian named Mr Povey Wynne, to comment on Nigeria’s internal political developments. During the height of the #EndBadGovernance protests, some demonstrators in some parts of the country were seen waving Russian flags, seemingly open to Russian involvement in Nigeria’s affairs.

It drew the attention of the Russian Embassy in Abuja, which quickly denied involvement in a statement affirming its respect for Nigeria’s sovereignty.

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