The Federal Government has announced that it is closely monitoring the legal case of Nigerian-Finnish citizen and leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), 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. The District Court of Päijät-Häme in Finland ruled to keep him in custody on probable cause, citing his alleged role in inciting violence through social media platforms.
In a statement issued on Friday by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, the government reaffirmed its commitment to tracking the progress of Ekpa’s legal proceedings. The statement highlighted the importance of addressing IPOB’s influence and the activities of transnational actors on Nigeria’s national security.
The Federal Government has previously applied diplomatic pressure on Finland to address Ekpa’s actions, which have been linked to violent incidents and unrest in Nigeria’s South-East region.
As the case unfolds, the ministry pledged to keep the public informed about developments, ensuring that Ekpa’s activities are addressed within the framework of 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 neutralizing 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.
