Following claims linking a British national to an alleged attempt to overthrow President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s government, the Stars of Nations Schools, Nasarawa state has denied any links between the educational institution and the alleged conspiracy. The School, which the Nigerian Police Force has alleged to have been used by the accused British national of covert activities emphatically, disputed the allegations, saying that the school does not have the capacity to engage in any type of terrorist or subversive activity.
The controversy arose after the Nigerian Police declared British national Andrew Wynne, also known as Andrew Povich or Drew Povey, and his Nigerian associate, Lucky Ehis Obinyan, wanted for allegedly conspiring to destabilize the Nigerian government. Wynne is accused of using educational and literary initiatives, including the ‘Iva Valley Bookshop’ and ‘STARS of Nations Schools,’ as fronts for his subversive activities.
Speaking with Abuja City Journal, a staff member [who refused to give her name to our reporter] shed light on the school’s situation, expressing disbelief at the allegations. “The school knows nothing about these accusations. These claims are entirely baseless and false,” she asserted during the phone interview. She further revealed that the school’s operations have been significantly hindered by financial difficulties, which directly contradicts the police’s portrayal of the school as a base for terrorist activities. “The school’s proprietress, who is the wife of the British national, often struggles to pay staff salaries and even takes out loans to keep the school running because it is not generating enough income,” she explained.
The Nigerian Police’s report had previously suggested that Wynne, operating under the guise of an educational leader, had rented a space at Labour House in Abuja to establish his initiatives, which they claim were intended to foment unrest and justify an unconstitutional regime change. The police accused Wynne of orchestrating and funding violent protests, spreading disinformation, and engaging in other illegal activities designed to destabilize the government.
However, the staff member’s account offers a contrasting narrative, one that paints the school as an institution struggling to stay afloat financially, rather than a hotbed of terrorist activity. She insisted that the school’s incomplete infrastructure and financial woes are clear indicators that it does not have the resources to support any form of subversive operation. “We are barely able to make ends meet, let alone fund or support any criminal activity,” she reiterated.
Despite these denials, the investigation into Wynne’s activities continues. The British national remains at large, with a ₦10 million bounty on his head. The Nigerian Police maintain that Wynne played a central role in the alleged plot, providing both financial and operational support to those involved in the conspiracy. They have also called on the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) for questioning, further widening the scope of the investigation.
“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,” police statement said on Monday.
This declaration by the police comes just days after the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) leadership was summoned for questioning regarding their connections to Wynne. Joe Ajaero, NLC President and Emma Ugboaja, the union’s General Secretary, have been ordered to appear at the Force Headquarters on September 5, 2024, for further interrogation.
