Andrew Wynne, the British national recently declared wanted by Nigerian authorities for allegedly funding the #EndBadGovernance protests, has spoken out for the first time since the charges were made public.
In a statement on Monday, Muyiwa Adejobi, the spokesperson for the Nigerian Police, announced that Wynne had fled the country. “Since the start of our investigation, Andrew Wynne has absconded. Alongside one of his local coordinators, Lucky Ehis Obiyan, both have been declared wanted, and a global search for them has begun,” Adejobi said.
The authorities have reportedly apprehended nine individuals linked to the protests, who were allegedly funded by substantial foreign financial backing aimed at destabilizing Nigeria. According to Adejobi, these individuals orchestrated and funded violent protests, spread false information, and engaged in unlawful activities to undermine the country’s democratically elected government.
In response, Wynne released a statement condemning the Nigerian government’s actions. He argued that protesting is not a crime and called for the release of all detainees connected to the protests. He accused the government of repression, stating that instead of addressing the public’s demands, it responded with violence and mass arrests.
Wynne alleged that the government’s crackdown on the protests resulted in the deaths of approximately 40 people at the hands of police and security forces, with thousands more arrested and still in captivity. He particularly criticized the severe charges, including treason and mutiny, faced by protest leaders in Abuja, pointing out that the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) has pledged a general strike to protect its President, Joe Ajaero, from similar accusations.
He also highlighted the case of Eleojo Opaluwa, a former colleague of Ajaero and Vice Chair of the NLC in Kogi State, who has been detained for over four weeks without substantial evidence. Wynne expressed concerns about the legitimacy of the charges against the detainees, warning that they could face long prison sentences unless supported by the trade union movement.
Wynne’s statement suggests a disconnect between the government and the police investigating the case, with some detainees reportedly unfamiliar with each other, raising questions about the coherence of the government’s accusations.
Stay tuned to Naijahotvibez blog for more news.
