The Nigerian police have raided the home of Drew Povey, owner of Ivy Valley Books, located at Labour House in Abuja, in connection with the #EndBadGovernance protests and alleged terrorism financing.
Earlier on Wednesday, SaharaReporters reported a similar raid on the home of Stars of Nations Schools Principal, Helen Batubo, at Serenity Estate, Karshi, in Nasarawa State, also related to the protests.
SaharaReporters reported on Tuesday that the school administrator had been invited by the Office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Department of Force Intelligence over allegations of “criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime.”
The invitation, detailed in an official letter, required the school principal to appear for an interview on Tuesday, August 20, 2024, at the IRT Complex in Guzape District, Abuja.
SaharaReporters on Tuesday reported that Batubo is the step-daughter of Mr. Drew who owns the school and runs the bookshop on 2nd floor of Nigeria Labour Congress’ Labour House in Abuja.
SaharaReporters learnt that on Wednesday morning, police officers broke into the home Drew Povey. Meanwhile, Mr Povey is currently outside the country, according to sources.
“This morning, the home of the owner of Iva Valley Books, Drew Povey, was broken into by a group of police officers,” a source familiar with the operation told SaharaReporters.
Sources told SaharaReporters that the bookshop was opened in 2017 on a not-for-profit basis.
A source said, “The NLC provided the office space rent free and all remaining costs, including the wages of the administrator, were covered by the manager.
“The aim was to provide books at a modest price for both trade unionists and members of civil society organisations. Many of the books were fairly used and brought by the manager on his trips between London and Abuja.
“The modest turnover of books was supplemented through the running of a business centre. Most of the customers were pensioners. They required copies of documents to be presented to the Trust Fund pension company who share the building with the NLC.”
“The bookshop operated completely openly. In the first few years, a banner was displayed on the railings by the entrance to Labour House. Posters are prominently displayed by the entrance to the bookshop on the second floor. Book stalls were also provided for trade union meetings at Labour House and some outside conferences. A bookstall was arranged for the May Day celebrations in Eagle Square for at least the last two years,” one of the sources said.
The bookshop along with other rooms in the building was recently raided by security agents, who carted away some materials, claiming that the materials were used to incite and organise the ongoing #EndBadGovernance protests in the country.
“They removed all the books from a bookshop that had been operating openly over the last seven years. The books covered topics such as trade unionism, environmentalism, feminism and included several novels,” a source told SaharaReporters.
According to one of the sources, Iva Valley Books has “firmly stated that such accusations have no basis in fact”.
Regarding the raid of the home of the Stars of Nations Schools Principal, Mrs Batubo on Wednesday, a source earlier said, “The police have invaded the house of the principal of Stars of Nations Schools in connection with the #EndBadGovernance protests.
“They invited them and they sent a letter that next week they will come but they burgled the house today (Wednesday).”
It was learnt that Mr Povey’s wife had also been invited for questioning over alleged involvement in criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime.
The letter addressed to Mrs Batubo, the principal of the school located at Sabon Gida Akwotapy Village, Karshi District, Karu Local Government Area, Nasarawa State, was taken to the school by about seven police personnel on Monday, who went there in a big Hilux vehicle.
It reads, “This office is investigating a case of criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion and cybercrime in which you were mentioned.
“You are therefore invited to interview the undersigned on Tuesday, 20th August by 10:00hrs prompt, at IRT Complex, Old Abattoir by Guape Junction, Abuja through the Team Leader with telephone no 08025179870 in connection with the above investigation.
“Be informed that in the event of failing to honor this letter, this office will have no alternative than to activate a warrant of arrest against you, please.”
The letter dated August 19, 2024 was signed by ACP Adamu Mu’azu, Assistant Commissioner of Police, for the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Intelligence Response Team (IRT), Abuja.
SaharaReporters reported on Monday that the NLC President, Joe Ajaero, had been invited by the Office of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Intelligence Response Team (IRT), over allegations of “criminal conspiracy, terrorism financing, treasonable felony, subversion, and cybercrime.”
On Wednesday, August 7, armed security men invaded Labour House, the NLC headquarters in Abuja, breaking into some offices.
They also raided Ivy Valley Books in the building and took some materials away in their vans, claiming they were used to incite and organise the recent 10-day #EndBadGovernance protests in the country.
“The armed men who forced themselves into Labour House include police in uniform, men in black clothes, assumed to be DSS (Department of State Services) personnel, and others in civilian clothes.
“The police have admitted responsibility, but the DSS has denied involvement. The Office of the National Security Adviser may be involved as they detained several people connected with the recent protests and the protests were mentioned during the raid,” one of the sources said.
Despite the NLC’s demand for the return of seized books and property, the security operatives have yet to comply.
