The Federal Government of Nigeria on Friday revealed that the arrest of Simon Ekpa, the self-proclaimed Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government in-Exile, was the outcome of persistent diplomatic pressure exerted on Finland by Nigeria.
Ekpa, who was detained alongside four others on Thursday, is suspected of being involved in terrorist activities.
The District Court of Päijät-Häme in Finland has decided to hold him in custody, citing his alleged role in inciting violence through social media platforms.
Following his arrest, Nigerian authorities confirmed that they were closely monitoring the progress of Ekpa’s legal case.
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“The Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirms the arrest of Mr. Simon Njoku Ekpa, a Nigerian-Finnish citizen and prominent leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), by Finnish authorities on Thursday, November 21, 2024,” said Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the Ministry, in a statement.
The Ministry emphasized that it would continue to track the developments of the case, highlighting the significance of the proceedings in addressing the influence of IPOB and international actors on Nigeria’s national security.
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“Ekpa has been charged with inciting terrorism and promoting violence. The Finnish District Court of Päijät-Häme has ruled to detain him on probable cause for inciting crimes with terrorist intent,” the Ministry stated.
The statement went on to underscore that Ekpa’s arrest marked an important step in curbing the activities of IPOB and neutralizing the influence of external actors on Nigeria’s security landscape.
“Given his involvement in the incitement of violence and terrorism, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to monitor the case and provide updates as the legal proceedings unfold,” the Ministry added.
The Defence Headquarters of Nigeria also commended Finnish authorities for their action shortly after the news of Ekpa’s arrest emerged.
Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, and Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, Director of Defence Information, both issued statements praising the arrest as a major victory in the fight against terrorism.
“The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, is pleased with the arrest of Ekpa in Finland. This could be a crucial step towards his eventual extradition to Nigeria, where he will face justice,” Gusau said on Thursday.
Buba also noted that the arrest demonstrated the international community’s support for Nigeria’s anti-terrorism efforts.
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“The CDS has long called for the arrest of Simon Ekpa due to his deep involvement in fueling terrorism in southeastern Nigeria. We are pleased that the international community is working with Nigeria in this battle,” Buba said.
In March 2023, the Defence Headquarters had issued a warrant for Ekpa’s arrest for his role in inciting violence in the South-East of Nigeria.
He was accused of using social media to spread separatist messages connected to IPOB, a group advocating for the secession of the southeastern region of Nigeria.
The charges against Ekpa date back to August 2021.
Finnish authorities had previously investigated him for alleged financial crimes, including raising funds through questionable methods.
