Who is Andrew Wynne, the Briton declared wanted for ‘funding terrorism’ in Nigeria?

People were taken by surprise on Monday when the Nigeria Police Force (NPF) accused a foreign national of plotting a regime change in the country.

The NPF accused Andrew Wynne, a Briton, of plotting to overthrow President Bola Tinubu.

According to the police, Wynne was wanted for allegedly building a “network of sleeper cells to topple the government and plunge the nation into chaos”.

Sleeper cells are terrorist cells whose members work undercover in an area until sent into action.

Muyiwa Adejobi, the force spokesperson, said the Briton rented a space at the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) headquarters in Abuja for “Iva Valley Bookshop and established STARS of Nations Schools as a cover for his subversive activities”.

“Documentary evidence and confessions revealed that Andrew Wynne issued directives, monitored progress, provided finance and operational guidance to achieve unconstitutional regime change in Nigeria,” Adejobi said.

“He mobilized and deployed several billions of naira to his Nigerian collaborators, urging them to mobilize the public to violently storm police facilities and military barracks, anticipating a bloodbath that will instigate international condemnation of the Nigerian government.

“These acts are in clear violation of the Terrorism (Prevention) Act 2011 and other relevant laws.”

Wynne has been placed on global surveillance after fleeing the country since investigations began, the spokesperson added.

The declaration came weeks after police officers raided the Labour House in the Central Business District of Abuja, Nigeria’s capital city.

The NLC had said the operatives on the search operation “claimed that they were looking for seditious materials used for the #EndBadGovernance protests”.

The raid took place amid a 10-day nationwide protest against the pervasive economic hardship in the country which kicked off on August 1.

WHO IS ANDREW WYNNE?

Not much is known about the foreigner – not even his real name. At the moment, about three variations have surfaced: Drew Povey, Andrew Povich and Andrew Wynne – last names that appear to have Russian twists.

In an interview with Channels TV, Wynne said he only has one nationality, adding that the name on his passport is Andrew Wynne.

However, the purpoted British national hinted that his real name was not public.

“I operate with a nickname,” he said. “I think really it started as differentiating in a sense the broadly political education work I do with the bookshop.”

The political education work Wynne referred to centres around public financial management mainly in sub-Saharan Africa, according to his LinkedIn page.

“Andy is now a free-lance consultant in sub-Saharan Africa, concentrating on advising and research on public financial management in Nigeria,” the bio reads.

“Since early 2015 this has been combined with his fractional contract with the School of Management, University of Leicester.”

Wynne is also listed as a senior lecturer at the University of Leicester on Scribd, a digital document library.

Responding to an email from TheCable, the university confirmed that Wynne is a lecturer in the institution.

“We can confirm Dr Andrew Wynne is an Honorary Associate Professor at the University of Leicester. An honorary associate professor is not a permanent member of staff and the role is unpaid,” the university said.

WYNNE, THE BOOKSTORE OWNER ‘LINKED’ TO THE SUDAN CONFLICT

Iva Valley Books, owned by Wynne, is located at the Labour House and has a stock range of socialist, economics and environmental books.

The name of the bookstore appears to be drawn from the killing of 21 striking coalminers on November 18, 1949, at the Iva Valley mines, Enugu, according to an article written by Socialist Workers League, and published on the bookstore’s website. The association has asked the police to drop the terrorism charges against Wynne.

Wynne has also listed his research interests to include “identifying existing good practice within public financial management in sub-Saharan Africa”.

“He is currently researching the development of financial reporting standards in the Nigerian public sector and the most appropriate approach for internal audit,” his LinkedIn bio added.

“He is finalising papers on the adoption of the Cash Basis IPSAS in Nepal and the independence of the two main audit bodies in Franco-phone Africa, the General State Inspectorate and the Court of Accounts.”

On Slideshare, a Scribd company, Wynne is named as an advisor to African governments on accounting, finance and audit reforms with affliations to the military as well.

“I’ve been visiting Nigeria for 25 years. I’ve had a bookshop in the NLC office right in the center of Abuja for seven years and all that time, of course, the security forces have paid no interest in me,” Wynne told Channels TV, while expressing confusion at the “sudden” scrutiny.

Some days after the raid on the NLC House, Kayode Egbetokun, inspector-general of police (IGP), said the “mastermind of the Sudan conflict was traced” to the building.

‘WIFE’: MY HUSBAND IS INNOCENT

Helen Batubo, who is believed to be Wynne’s partner, said allegations against him are unfounded.

Batubo, who was also invited by the police for questioning, alleged that security operatives raided her home in Karshi, a satelite town on the outskirts of Abuja, in an attempt to find incriminating materials.

According to Batubo, she got married to Wynne last year after eight years of friendship.

“My husband is falsely accused. He’s never been a terrorist,” she said.

Batubo claimed that Wynne is being accused wrongly because of a debtor who has refused to pay the Briton an unspecified amount owed and has resorted to using the law against him.

Batubo is the principal of Stars of Nations Schools in Nasarawa, which Wynne owns. A statement issued by Femi Falana, senior advocate of Nigeria (SAN) and human rights lawyer, described Batubo as Wynne’s stepdaughter.

WYNNE: I’M READY TO COOPERATE

Speaking further in the interview with Channels, Wynne said he is more than happy to talk to the police.

The police spokesperson had said the Briton fled Nigeria once investigations commenced. However, the bookstore owner denied the allegations.

“I am not aware that I am a fugitive. I am not aware that I am running away from the law,” he said.

“I am more than happy to talk to the police. I’m more than happy to have a discussion on WhatsApp, on Zoom. I’m more than happy to go to London and meet with officials from the Nigerian High Commission if they want to start the conversation.”

The Briton said he left the country on August 4 for “vacation”.

Wynne also said claims that he goes under the name of Andrew Povich, a Russian sounding name, and that he has now left Nigeria for Russia are false.

The foreigner did not reveal his current location.