A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued a warrant for the arrest of Andrew Wynne, a British national, on charges related to treason and terrorism. The warrant was granted by Justice Emeka Nwite on Tuesday, following an ex-parte motion submitted by the Inspector-General of Police (IGP).
The motion, presented by police counsel Audu Garba, sought the court’s authorization to arrest Wynne, who is also known by several aliases, including Andrew Povich, Lucky Ehis Obiyan, and Abdullahi Musa. The charges against Wynne include conspiracy, treason, incitement to mutiny, disaffection against the government, and terrorism. These charges fall under sections 97, 410, 413, 416, and 412 of the Penal Code, Northern States Federal Provisions Act CAP P3 LFN 2004.
In his submission, Garba argued that the issuance of an arrest warrant was necessary to facilitate the apprehension of Wynne and his co-defendants, who are currently at large. According to the affidavit supporting the motion, investigations conducted by the authorities revealed that the defendants allegedly played a key role in orchestrating the invasion and arson of several high-profile sites, including the High Court complex, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) office, and a printing press in Kano, during the #EndBadGovernance protest.
The affidavit further alleges that Wynne and his co-defendants were involved in attacks on the Kano Government House, the Kaduna Investment and Promotions Agency’s office, the National Union of Road Transport Workers (NURTW) office, and several other buildings last month. These attacks, according to the affidavit, were part of a broader campaign of violence aimed at destabilizing the region and fomenting discontent against the government.
The police counsel emphasized the urgency of granting the arrest warrant, stating that it would empower law enforcement agencies across the country, as well as international security agencies, to locate and apprehend the suspects. Garba underscored the importance of bringing the accused to justice, noting that their actions have had far-reaching consequences for national security and public order.
