- Come out of hiding, Police dare wanted Briton
Justice Emeka Nwite of a Federal High Court in Abuja, on Tuesday, issued an arrest warrant against a British citizen, Andrew Wynne, and some Nigerians over allegations bordering on treason and terrorism.
The order was granted in an ex-parte motion filed by the Inspector General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, but moved by the Federal Government’s counsel, Audu Garba, on Wynne (aka Andrew Povich) and 10 other Nigerians reportedly on the run.
The IGP had accused the 10 Nigerian protesters, among others, of conspiring with Wynne to plot the removal of President Bola Tinubu through unconstitutional means, among other allegations.
At Tuesday’s sitting, Garba told the court that an ex-parte application seeking an order for an arrest warrant on some persons was before the court.
The lawyer urged the court to grant the application in the interest of justice, maintaining that if the application was given, it would enable all police officers in the country and other security agencies to use their mechanisms to secure the lawful arrest of the fleeing defendants.
He said the defendants, who are on the run, were involved in the case of conspiracy, treason, inciting to mutiny, inciting disaffection to government and terrorism, among others, which is contrary to Sections 97, 410, 413, 416 and 412 of the Penal Code, Northern States Federal Provisions Act CAP P3 LFN 2004.
The affidavit filed in support of the motion contended that the investigation so far conducted shows that the fleeing defendants were allegedly responsible for planning and coordinating the invasion and burning down of the High Court Complex, the office of the Nigerian Communications Commission and the Printing Press – all in Kano State, among others.
The lawyer listed the individuals to include Andrew Povich, Lucky Obiyan, and Abdullahi Musa.
Garba said others who are now at large are being tracked, hence, the need for the application.
Justice Nwite granted the motion, describing it as meritorious.
Recall that Justice Nwite on Monday ordered the remand of 10 #EndbadgovernanceinNigeria protesters in Kuje and Suleja prisons.
The nationwide protest which was tagged #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria was held for 10 days in which some Nigerians took to the streets to bemoan the harsh economic conditions in the country.
Come out of hiding, police dare wanted Briton
Meanwhile, the Nigeria Police Force, on Tuesday, called on the wanted British national, Andrew Wynne, to come out of his hiding and surrender to the police.
This is as the police refuted the claim by Wynne that no invitation was extended to him before declaring him wanted.
The police had declared Wynne and his Nigerian collaborator, Lucky Obiyan, wanted for allegedly plotting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu’s administration and placed a N20m bounty on them.
Addressing journalists in Abuja on Tuesday, Force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi, said Wynne was contacted many times and he refused to show up even after his workshop was invaded.
He said, “He (Wynne) has been contacted several times. He has been so faceless. We went to invade that bookshop. As he asked questions, he came out. If you have a genuine business, are you not going to ask the police what we went to do in his shop or his office?
“Up till now, he has not shown up. We have been able to trace his private school. We visited his school; has he shown up? We have interrogated staff and people working with him. Has he shown up? So where is he and why is he hiding and speaking from hiding that he has no case to answer?
“As I said, it is not a subject of debate or argument. We have done what we should as a responsible security institution.”
Adejobi insisted that some offences had been established against Wynne, adding that his accomplices had been arraigned in court.
The force spokesperson dared Wynne to come out of hiding and face the wrath of the law like his accomplices.
He said, “We have established an offence or offences against him, and we have even declared him wanted. His accomplices have been charged in court.
“Let him come out. At least those people worked for him, as a good leader, as a businessman, as a smart man who mobilised and organised sleeper cells to cause problems in Nigeria.
“He should have come out as a good leader. So let him prove to his followers that he is a good leader. Let him come and meet us.”
Adejobi said the Zoom interrogation suggested by Wynne would not be accepted by the police based on the gravity of the allegations preferred against him.
He said, “We have questions to ask him. This is a guy who has been travelling out of Nigeria frequently. Why is it difficult for him to come down? Who is going to take a Zoom meeting for a suspect in this kind of offence? No.
“Let him come. I am still calling him again. Let him come. Suppose he’s a good man. If he is a genuine businessman in Nigeria, let Andrew Wynne report to the police so that he can come and clear some grey areas.”
