Oluwatosin Enesi
In an interview with Channels TV on Monday, Wynne said he was not on the run and was ready to speak to the Nigerian authorities.
“I am not aware that I am a fugitive, I am not aware that I am running away from the law, I have been visiting Nigeria for 25 years. I have had a bookshop at the NLC offices right at the centre of Abuja for seven years and all that time, of course the security forces have paid no interest in me,” Wynne stated.
“I only have one nationality and the name on my passport is Andrew Wynne with a nickname. I am more than happy to talk with the police, I am more than happy to have a discussion on WhatsApp or Zoom, I am more than happy to go to London and meet with officials from the Nigerian High Commission. If they want to start a conversation then I think that is more than adequate,” he added.
His Nigerian wife also spoke to Channels Television, claiming her husband is falsely accused.
She attributed Wynne’s predicament to a Nigerian debtor attempting to evade repayment.
“We have been together for nine years, eight years of friendship before we finally got married last year. My husband is falsely accused, he has never been a terrorist. He is being accused because one Mr Olumide is owing him and not ready to pay him,” she said.
“The case is in court even now. So, he is just doing anything he can to intimidate and throw him out of the country. He is in the UK because he came in and at the expiring date of his going back, he had to go back. If not for all these, he is supposed to be back maybe around twenty something in September,” she added.
It was earlier reported on Monday that Force spokesperson, Muyiwa Adejobi accused Wynne of building a network of sleeper cells to cause chaos and overthrow the government.
“The Nigeria Police Force has launched a comprehensive investigation into the activities of foreign national and subversive elements plotting to undermine the democratically elected government in Nigeria through unconstitutional regime change and orchestrating violence across the country,” Adejobi said.
“Following extensive intelligence gathering and collaboration with other security agencies, nine suspects have been apprehended, who received substantial financial backing from foreign sources to destabilise the country.
“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.
Adejobi further stated, “Investigations have identified a foreign mercenary, Andrew Wynne (also known as Andrew Povich or Drew Povey), a British national, who built a network of sleeper cells to topple the government and plunge the nation into chaos. He 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, one Lucky Ehis Obiyan, have accordingly been declared wanted, and global hunting for them has commenced in connection with this investigation,” Adejobi said.
The Force PRO also noted Wynne provided finance and operational guidance to allegedly topple an elected government in the country.
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