The Finnish Government has confirmed that it is actively pursuing legal actions against Simon Ekpa, a prominent pro-Biafran agitator linked to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). This disclosure was made by Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Elina Valtonen, during a press conference in Abuja, Nigeria's capital, on Tuesday. The case, which was reported to the Finnish government by Nigerian authorities, is now before Finnish courts.
Ekpa, who resides in Finland, has been a vocal advocate for the secession of Biafra from Nigeria and has enforced controversial sit-at-home orders in Nigeria's South-East region. Despite the mainstream IPOB leadership suspending these directives, Ekpa continued to push for them, leading to significant disruptions and violence.
In February 2023, just days before Nigeria's presidential and national assembly elections, Ekpa was arrested in his residence in Lahti, Finland, after threatening that the elections would not take place in the South-East. Although he was later released, he remains active on social media, promoting his pro-Biafran agenda.
Valtonen emphasized that the Finnish judicial system, which operates strictly by the rule of law, is handling Ekpa's case. She assured that both Finnish and Nigerian judicial systems are collaborating closely on this matter, aiming for a resolution soon. The issue was a central topic during high-level discussions between Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, and his Nordic counterparts, including ministers from Sweden, Iceland, Norway, and Denmark.
The Nordic ministers' visit to Nigeria, which also included a trip to Ghana, focused on deepening trade ties and addressing violent extremism in West Africa. Valtonen reiterated Finland's commitment to working with Nigeria to counter such extremism and achieve sustainable development goals in the region.
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