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Finnish Government Confirms Action on Simon Ekpa Case

Published by Tope Fakinlede on August 14th, 2024.

Finnish Government Confirms Action on Simon Ekpa Case

The Finnish government has confirmed that it is taking action in response to the activities of Simon Ekpa, a pro-Biafran agitator involved with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in Nigeria’s South-East. This was disclosed by Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs, Elina Valtonen, during a press conference held in Abuja, Nigeria, on Tuesday.

Valtonen revealed that the case, which was reported to the Finnish authorities by the Nigerian government, is currently being handled by Finnish courts. Ekpa, who has declared himself the “Prime Minister” of Biafra, has been a vocal supporter of sit-at-home orders in Nigeria’s South-East, even after the mainstream IPOB leadership suspended the practice.

In February 2023, just days before Nigeria’s presidential and national assembly elections, Ekpa was arrested in Finland, where he resides, after making threats that the elections would not proceed in the South-East. His arrest took place at his residence in Lahti, as reported by Finnish newspaper *Helsingin Sanomat*.

Despite IPOB distancing itself from Ekpa, who had been scheduled for an interview before his arrest, he was later released and has since continued to share his pro-Biafran messages on social media.

Valtonen was part of a delegation of Nordic Ministers, including representatives from Sweden, Iceland, Norway, and Denmark, who were visiting Nigeria to strengthen trade relations. The ministers emphasized their focus on countering violent extremism in West Africa and supporting the achievement of sustainable development goals. Following their visit to Nigeria, the delegation continued their two-day trip to Ghana.