The Federal Government has stated that it is closely monitoring the legal proceedings of Nigerian-Finnish citizen and leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, Simon Ekpa, following his arrest in Finland on charges of inciting terrorism and promoting violence.
Ekpa was detained on Thursday, November 21, 2024, by Finnish authorities, and the Finnish District Court of Päijät-Häme has ruled to keep him in detention on probable cause, citing his alleged involvement in inciting violence through social media.
The Federal Government, in a statement signed by the spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Kimiebi Ebienfa, on Friday, said it will continue to track the progress of Ekpa’s legal case, emphasising the importance of the proceedings in addressing the influence of IPOB and transnational actors on Nigeria’s national security.
The government had previously exerted diplomatic pressure on Finland to take action against Ekpa’s activities, which have been linked to violent incidents in Nigeria’s South-East region.
As the case develops, the ministry has pledged to provide further updates on the legal process and ensure that Ekpa’s actions, which have contributed to unrest in Nigeria, are properly addressed under Finnish law.
“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.
“He was charged with inciting terrorism and promoting violence. The Finnish District Court of Päijät-Häme ruled to detain him on probable cause for publicly inciting crimes with terrorist intent.
“The Ministry wishes to affirm that the arrest of Mr Simon Ekpa is a significant development in addressing the activities of IPOB, and also neutralising the influence of transnational actors and their impact on our national security.
“The Ministry will continue to monitor the legal proceedings and provide further updates as the case progresses,” the statement read.