The Finnish government has confirmed that it is taking legal action against a prominent pro-Biafran agitator linked to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Simon Ekpa, over his involvement in secessionist activities in Nigeria’s South-East region.
Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Elina Valtonen, made this disclosure during a press conference in Abuja on Tuesday.
Valtonen, who was in Nigeria along with her Nordic counterparts, revealed that the case involving Ekpa is now being handled by Finnish courts, following a report by the Nigerian government.
“The case of Ekpa, whose activities were reported to the Finnish government by the Nigerian authorities, is now before Finnish courts,” Valtonen stated during the conference.
Simon Ekpa, who refers to himself as the Prime Minister of Biafra, has been a vocal advocate for sit-at-home orders in the South-East, despite the IPOB leadership suspending the practice.
His controversial actions have drawn significant attention, particularly in the lead-up to Nigeria’s presidential and national assembly elections in February 2023.
Just days before the elections, Ekpa was arrested at his residence in Lahti, Finland, after making threats that the elections would not take place in the South-East.
The arrest was reported by the Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat. However, despite his arrest, Ekpa has continued to be active on social media, promoting his pro-Biafran stance.
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has distanced itself from Ekpa, particularly after his arrest. He was reportedly scheduled for an interview before being detained by the Finnish authorities.
Minister Valtonen’s visit to Nigeria was part of a broader delegation of Nordic ministers from Sweden, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Denmark. The delegation’s visit aimed to strengthen trade ties and address issues such as countering violent extremism in West Africa and achieving sustainable development goals.
The ministers are continuing their two-day visit in Ghana, where they are seeking to solidify relations on the African continent.
