LEADERSHIP
A British national declared wanted by the Nigerian authorities for alleged attempts to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s government, Andrew Wynne, has once again refuted the claims, maintaining his innocence and that of the 10 individuals charged with treason in connection to the #EndBadGovernance protests.
Seventy-year old Wynne became a target of the Nigerian government following his involvement in the protest held in Abuja in August.
The police have linked him to a group of protesters arrested and currently facing treason charges at the Federal High Court in Abuja.
The authorities alleged that Wynne built “a network of sleeper cells to topple” the Tinubu-led administration and incite chaos across the country.
In a detailed statement released on Monday, Wynne, also known by the alias, Andrew Porvey, denied all accusations, asserting, “protest is not treason.”
Monday’s statement made it the second from the Briton since the police declared him wanted on September 2.
According to Wynne who owns the Ivy Bookshop located in the headquarters of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) in Abuja, described the accusations as baseless.
He emphasised that he has no criminal record in the 25 years he has been visiting Nigeria, adding that his bookstore was raided by the police after the #EndBadGovernance protest.
“They [the police] have not provided a single example of any transaction to support their claim that I funded treason or any other illegal activity. The police have no evidence for the crimes they claim I have committed,” he stated, adding, “I did not pay anyone for such activities.”
Wynne also dismissed the allegation that he had visited other African countries 13 times in two months, calling it a “complete fabrication.”
He explained that he has been regularly visiting Nigeria, about five or six times a year, since 2008 on a valid business visa.
“I have never called for a military coup in any country. I support democracy and do not believe that military coups are a step forward,” Wynne said, adding that the recent coups in West Africa have not benefited the people.
In the statement, Wynne shared more insights into his activities in Nigeria, mentioning that he had set up a book stall at Eagle Square during the NLC’s May Day celebrations in the past two years.
“The DSS (Department of State Services) officers came and greeted us and looked at the book stall. Beyond this, they expressed no interest in myself or the book stall,” he explained.
He also rejected the police’s claim that he used the alias “Povich,” saying, “The nickname claimed for me by the police of Povich is their fabrication. I had never before even heard of such a name.”
Wynne further stated that he had no reason to flee the country, explaining that he left Nigeria on August 4, four days into the protests, with a ticket purchased months earlier. “I freely flew out of the country from Abuja Airport. I had no reason to flee and had already booked a ticket to return on September 18,” he said.
Further in his statement, Wynne distanced himself from most of the individuals arrested in connection with the protest, stating, “I hardly know any of those detained for the alleged crimes associated with me. I have never met most of them and had no contact with them before they were detained.”
He expressed his belief in their innocence, saying, “I believe that all of the 10 people who have been charged with alleged offences associated with me are completely innocent. When they are found not guilty, my name will also be cleared.”
The #EndBadGovernance protest, which took place between August 1 and 10, was organised in response to widespread dissatisfaction with the rising cost of living attributed to President Tinubu’s economic policies, including the controversial removal of the petrol subsidy and the naira’s floating exchange rate.
The protests escalated into violence in some northern cities, leading to the destruction of government and private properties.
