A Nigerian court on Tuesday issued an arrest warrant for a British national and two Nigerians accused of treason and inciting the military in connection with last month’s inflation protests.
This development follows the Nigerian government’s decision on Monday to charge ten individuals with treason and conspiracy to incite mutiny within the armed forces. All ten defendants have denied the charges, which are also related to the protests.
The arrest warrant was issued against Andrew Martin Wynne, a British citizen, alongside two Nigerians, Lucky Elis Obiyari and Abdullahi Musa. According to a police affidavit presented to the court, the three are accused of being the “masterminds and coordinators” behind a recent plot to destabilize Nigeria and overthrow the current democratically elected government.
Efforts to reach the accused for comment were unsuccessful. Police authorities allege that the trio fled the country to evade arrest and have indicated plans to seek assistance from Interpol.
Critics of the government have condemned the treason charges, arguing that they represent an extreme measure aimed at silencing dissent as Nigerians face the most severe economic challenges in a generation under President Bola Tinubu’s administration.
