Nigeria pushes for Simon Ekpa’s extradition as Finland tightens legal grip

The Nigerian government has formally submitted extradition requests for Simon Ekpa, a pro-Biafran agitator and prominent figure in the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to Finnish authorities.

This was disclosed by Nigeria’s Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, during Channels Television’s 2024 Year-In-Review programme on December 31.

“Well, I’m sure he is cooling off somewhere,” Musa remarked, confirming Ekpa’s arrest in Finland earlier in November. “Legal action is going to be taken accordingly. I don’t want to say much about that, but I’m happy he has been arrested. The Federal Government has forwarded most of the requirements to the Finnish Government, so I’m sure the right thing will be done.”

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Ekpa, a dual citizen of Nigeria and Finland, has been under intense scrutiny for his alleged role in orchestrating terror-related activities in Nigeria’s southeast. Finnish authorities arrested him and four others on suspicion of incitement to violence, terrorism financing, and other related crimes. A district court in Lahti subsequently ordered Ekpa’s remand, citing probable cause for public incitement to commit crimes with terrorist intent.

The agitator is accused of using social media to disseminate propaganda advocating for the secession of Nigeria’s southeastern region. His calls for a weekly sit-at-home protest, enforced with violence, have reportedly disrupted economic activities and caused widespread fear in the region.

General Musa noted that the military’s ongoing clearance operations in the South-East have significantly weakened the influence of Ekpa’s sit-at-home orders. “The sit-at-home propagated by Ekpa and his allies is wearing off because of the clearance operations by the military,” he said.

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