A British nationwide has stated he’s at a loss as to why the Nigerian police have accused him of planning to overthrow Nigeria’s authorities and positioned a bounty on his head.
It was alleged by Nigeria’s police spokesperson on Monday that Andrew Wynne – and a co-conspirator – had constructed up a community of sleeper cells to destabilise Nigeria and had fled the nation within the wake of final month’s cost-of-living protests.
Talking from the UK, Mr Wynne informed Nigeria’s Channels Tv he was not conscious of accusations and could be joyful to speak to officers.
He stated he ran a bookshop within the Nigerian capital, Abuja, and had been visiting the West African nation for 25 years with none issues.
A reward of 10m naira ($6,000, £5,000) has been supplied by Nigeria’s police to anybody who has data that would result in the arrest of Mr Wynne – and the identical quantity for his alleged Nigerian confederate Fortunate Obiyan.
“I’m more than pleased to speak with the police; I’m more than pleased to have a dialogue on WhatsApp or Zoom; I’m more than pleased to go to London and meet with officers from the Nigerian Excessive Fee,” stated Mr Wynne, who can be recognized by the identify Andrew Povich.
He was declared a fugitive on the day that 10 Nigerians have been charged with treason for collaborating within the protests that have been dubbed “10 days of rage”.
These demonstrations have been primarily organised by way of social media but additionally had the backing of the nation’s commerce unions.
All of those that have been accused on Monday within the federal excessive court docket of treason, destruction of public property and injuring cops pleaded not responsible. Their cost sheet additionally alleged that that they had been working with Mr Wynne.
Later, police spokesperson Muyiwa Adejobi gave extra particulars about Mr Wynne, saying he had rented an area at Abuja’s Labour Home, the headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) – the nation’s fundamental commerce union physique.
He additionally stated the British nationwide had established a college to cowl up his actions – working in the direction of the overthrow of President Bola Tinubu’s authorities.
“I’m not conscious that I’m a fugitive; I’m not conscious that I’m working away from the legislation,” Mr Wynne informed Channels TV.
“I’ve had a bookshop on the NLC workplaces proper on the centre of Abuja for seven years and all that point, in fact the safety forces have paid no real interest in me,” he stated.
The August demonstrations turned violent in some locations as protesters clashed with safety forces leaving at the very least seven useless, in line with police, although rights teams have put the dying toll at 23.