A British man accused of planning to overthrow the Nigerian government has said he’s baffled as to why he was laid with such accusation.
Andrew Wynne said he was not aware of the allegations and expressed readiness to speak with Nigerian officials.
On Monday, the Nigerian police spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi said Mr. Wynne and a co-conspirator had built a network of sleeper cells to destabilise Nigeria and had fled the country in the wake of last month’s cost-of-living protests.
A reward of 10m naira ($6,000, £5,000) has been offered by Nigeria’s police to anyone who has information that could lead to the arrest of Mr Wynne – and the same amount for his alleged Nigerian accomplice Lucky Obiyan.
Speaking with Nigeria’s Channels Television, Wynne said he ran a bookshop in the country’s capital, Abuja, and had been visiting the West African nation for 25 years without any problems.
“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,” said Mr Wynne, who is also known by the name Andrew Povich.
He was declared a fugitive on the day that 10 Nigerians were charged with treason for taking part in the protests that were dubbed “10 days of rage”.
The protests were mainly organised via social media but, had the backing of the country’s trade unions. It turned violent in some places, as protesters clashed with security forces leaving at least seven dead, according to police, though rights groups have put the death toll at 23.
On Monday, at the Federal High Court accused ten persons of treason, destruction of public property and injuring police officers. They pleaded not guilty but, their charge sheet also alleged they had been working with Mr Wynne.
Later, police spokesperson, Adejobi gave more details about Mr Wynne, saying he had rented a space at Abuja’s Labour House, the headquarters of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) – the country’s main trade union body.
He also said the British national had established a school to cover up his activities – working towards the overthrow of President Bola Tinubu’s government.
“I am not aware that I am a fugitive; I am not aware that I am running away from the law,” Mr Wynne continued on Channels TV.
“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,” he said.