By Omowumi Omotosho
Andrew Wynne, the Briton declared wanted by Nigerian authorities for allegedly funding the recent #EndBadGovernance protests, has broken his silence.
In a statement released on Monday, Muyiwa Adejobi, the Nigerian Police spokesperson, 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.
However, In response, Wynne released a statement on Monday, asserting that protest is not treasonous and urging the Nigerian government to release all detainees.
He criticized the government for its response to the #EndBadGovernance and #EndHunger protests, accusing it of repression instead of addressing the public’s demands.
Wynne claimed, “The government’s reaction to the protests included the murder of approximately 40 people by police and security forces, with thousands arrested and many still in captivity.”
He highlighted that in Abuja, protest leaders faced severe charges, including treason and mutiny, with the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) pledging a general strike to protect its President, Joe Ajaero, from similar charges.
Wynne criticized the evidence against the detainees as flimsy, warning that they could face lengthy prison terms unless supported by the trade union movement.
Wynne also pointed to Eleojo Opaluwa, the first person arrested in connection with the case.
“Opaluwa, a former colleague of Joe Ajaero and Vice Chair of the NLC in Kogi State, has been detained for over four weeks without substantial evidence,” Wynne said.
“His family was informed he had received a WhatsApp message from one of the other alleged leaders after his detention,” he said.
He added, “The ten detainees are accused of serious crimes, but there seems to be a disconnect among them. While some may have been part of a WhatsApp group for organizing protests, others are unfamiliar to the group. It appears there may be discord between the government and the police investigating this case.”
