Federal High Court in Abuja has ordered the arrest of a British citizen, named Andrew Martin Wynne, and other Nigerians for allegedly causing disaffection against President Bola Tinubu’s government and engaging in terrorism.

The court order came as human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana, called on President Bola Tinubu to direct the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to withdraw treason charges against #EndBadGovernance protesters.

Justice Emeka Nwite approved the arrest warrant in an ex parte motion filed by the Inspector General of Police (IGP). The IGP accused 10 Nigerian protesters of acting in concert with Andrew Martin Wynne to plot the removal of President Bola Tinubu by unconstitutional means, among other allegations.

IGP’s counsel, Audu Garba, approached the court, yesterday, seeking an order to issue a warrant of arrest against Andrew Martin Wynne (a.k.a Andrew Povich), Lucky Ehis Obiyan, and Abdullahi Musa, in a case of conspiracy, treason, incitement to mutiny, incitement of disaffection against the government, terrorism, and other related charges.

After hearing his submission, Justice Emeka Nwite granted the request, describing it as “meritorious.” But Falana advised President Tinubu to direct the Inspector-General of Police, Kayode Egbetokun, to withdraw the treasonable charges against the protesters, faulting the increasing use of treason charges against protesters in the country. The renowned legal practitioner warned that the misuse of treason charges could backfire on the government as it had in the past.

Falana made the call at a two-day international anti-corruption and climate change conference, organised by Human and Environmental Agenda (HEDA) in partnership with Hawkmoth and support of the MacArthur, in Abuja.

Falana questioned the rationale behind charging citizens with treason simply for exercising their right to protest, assuring the public that there was no cause for alarm.

But not relenting, the Police High Command, yesterday, asked Wynne to come out of his hiding and surrender to the police. This is as the police refuted the claim by Wynne that no invitation was extended to him before declaring him wanted.

Addressing newsmen in Abuja, yesterday, Police spokesman, Muyiwa Adejobi, said Wynne was contacted many times but he refused to show up even after his bookshop was invaded.

Adejobi insisted that some offences had been established against Wynne.

The Force spokesperson said: “I dare Wynne to come out of hiding and face the wrath of the law like his accomplices.

“We have established an offence or offences against him, and we have even declared him wanted. His accomplices have been charged in court.”

Meanwhile, Human Rights Writers Association of Nigeria (HURIWA) has criticised the prosecution of protesters, calling it a calculated move to silence dissent and intimidate citizens, who are exercising their constitutional rights.

HURIWA, in a statement, released yesterday, described government’s actions as an assault on democracy and a clear indication that the administration was hostile to the very concept of good governance.