FG Monitors Simon Ekpa's Trial in Finland

The Federal Government of Nigeria has confirmed that it is closely monitoring the legal proceedings of Simon Ekpa, the self-proclaimed Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile, following his arrest in Finland on charges of inciting terrorism and promoting violence.

Ekpa, a Nigerian-Finnish citizen and leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was detained on Thursday, November 21, 2024, by Finnish authorities.  The Finnish District Court of Päijät-Häme has ruled to keep him in custody, citing probable cause related to his alleged role in inciting violence through social media.

In a statement issued on Friday, Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, confirmed the arrest and underscored the Nigerian government's commitment to monitoring the progress of Ekpa’s legal case. The Ministry emphasized the importance of these proceedings in curbing the influence of IPOB and other transnational actors on Nigeria's national security.

The Federal Government had previously exerted diplomatic pressure on Finland to address Ekpa’s activities, which have been linked to violent incidents in Nigeria’s Southeastern region. Ekpa's arrest, along with that of four others on suspicion of terrorist activities, follows ongoing concerns over his promotion of separatist and violent ideologies.

"The Ministry of Foreign Affairs wishes to confirm 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," the statement read. "He has been charged with inciting terrorism and promoting violence, and the Finnish District Court of Päijät-Häme has ruled to detain him on probable cause for publicly inciting crimes with terrorist intent."

The Ministry also highlighted the significance of Ekpa's arrest in addressing the activities of IPOB and reducing the impact of external actors on Nigeria's security. "The arrest of Mr. Ekpa is a significant development in tackling the activities of IPOB and neutralizing the influence of transnational actors on our national security," the statement added.

Following the news of Ekpa’s arrest, Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters expressed support for the Finnish authorities' actions. Major General Edward Buba, Director of Defence Media Operations, and Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, Director of Defence Information, both praised the arrest as a crucial step in the fight against terrorism.

"The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, is pleased with Ekpa's arrest and hopes it will lead to his eventual extradition to Nigeria to face justice," Gusau said on Thursday. Buba echoed these sentiments, noting that the arrest signals international cooperation in Nigeria’s counterterrorism efforts.
 
He stated that, they are delighted by his arrest and pleased that the international community is working with Nigeria to combat terrorism. The Chief of Defence Staff has long called for Ekpa’s arrest due to his significant role in fueling terrorism in southeastern Nigeria."

Ekpa has been a target of Nigerian authorities since March 23, when the Defence Headquarters declared him wanted for inciting violence in the Southeastern region. He is accused of using social media platforms to disseminate separatist propaganda linked to IPOB, a group advocating for the secession of Southeastern Nigeria. These alleged offenses date back to August 23, 2021.

In addition to the terrorism charges, Finnish authorities have previously investigated Ekpa for potential financial crimes, including allegations of collecting funds through questionable means.