COURT ISSUES ARREST WARRANT AGAINST BRITON, OTHERS FOR ALLEGED TERRORISOM, INCITING MUTINY
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A Federal High Court in Abuja has issued an arrest warrant against a Briton, Andrew Martin Wynne (aka Andrew Povich) and his alleged Nigerian accomplices Lucky Ehis Obiyan and Comrade Abdullahi Musa – for their alleged complicity in terrorism and related criminal activities.
Justice Emeka Nwite issued the order for their arrest on Tuesday while ruling on an application by the Inspector General of Police (IGP).
Justice Nwite also issued an order declaring them wanted owing claim by the applicant that they were at large.
Lawyer to the IGP, Audu Garba, while moving the application, said the orders were required for security agencies to effect the arrest of the alleged fleeing suspects.
Audu said the suspects were allegedly involved in the offences of conspiracy, treason, inciting to mutiny, inciting disaffection to government, terrorism, among other, contrary to sections 97, 410, 413, 416 and 412 of the Penal Code Northern states Federal Provisions Act CAP P3 LFN 2004.
In a supporting affidavit, it was stated that investigation so far, revealed that the fleeing defendants were allegedly responsible for
planning and coordinating the invasion and burning down of High Court complex, police station in Nyanya, Abuja,
Complexes in Kano, Kano Printing Press, attacked on Government House Kano Kaduna Investment and promotions Agency office, NURTW office and several other buildings In August 2024.
The applicant added other alleged accomplices, now at large, are being tracked for arrest hence his application.
“That the arrest, investigation and prosecution of the fleeing defendants who are now on the run will be possible if this honourable court issues a warrant of arrest for their apprehension and to declare them wanted.”
Justice Nwite also on Tuesday, ordered the remand of a blogger and self-acclaimed whistleblower, Isaac Bristol Tamunobifiri (Pidom) in Kuje prison, Abuja.
The judge issued the order shortly after Tamunobifiri was arraigned on a nine count charge brought against him by the IGP.
He was accused among others of engaging in money laundering, cybercrime, unlawfully obtaining, retaining and disseminating classified secret documents.
He pleaded not guilty to the charge, following which his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju, applied for an application for bail, which was objected to by the prosecution counsel.
Justice Nwite subsequently adjourned to September 23 for ruling on the bail application.
Tamunobifiri is, in the charge marked FHC/ABJ/CR/456/2024, accused of mobilising and soliciting support to unduly compel the government to act or abstain from certain acts through the #EndBadGovernance protest, false money-laundering allegations against President Bola Tinubu, and unlawfully obtaining, retaining and disseminating classified secret documents in contravention of the official Secret Act 1962.
The IGP claimed that the funds Pidom allegedly obtained were derived from unlawful activities.
He was, in count nine, accused of tampering with evidence by destroying his Techno Phantom X phone and attempting to flush it down the water system of the hotel, where he was arrested.
Charge one read : That you Bristol Tamunobifiri ‘M’ 41 years of No. 36 Hardy Avenue, Port Harcourt, Rivers State in Nigeria within the jurisdiction of this honourable court sometime between 2023 and August 2024, accessed computer network using your X handle @Pidomnigeria with username #99%oppresed for the purpose of, mobilizing and soliciting support from. Nigerians to unduly compel the Federal Government of Nigeria to perform or abstain from performing certain acts through a movement you promoted with the hashtag #Endbadgovernanceinnigeria and you thereby commit an offence punishable under section 18(1) of the cybercrime (prohibition and prevention e.t.c) Act 2015 as amended 2024.
Count two read – that sometime between June and July, 2024 within the jurisdiction of the Honourable court you transmitted an alleged classified document of the Federal Government of Nigeria by means of X handle @Pidomnigeria with username #99%opressed wherein you knowingly sent a false message to with: See the document below wherein Tinubu released the sum of N24, 143, 494, 567. 32 billion Naira to NAHCON Chairman through Shettima’s office. Because Nigerians didn’t react enough, they went back and increased it to a whopping Ninety Billion Naira. ‘Saraka’ for the men. Free money with the intentional of causing the breakdown of law and order and you hereby commit an offence contrary to section 24 (b) of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition and Prevention etc) Act 2015 as amended 2024.
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