SIMON EKPA TO BE EXTRADITED TO NIGERIA OVER TERROR-RELATED CHARGES
The Nigerian Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has announced plans to extradite Simon Ekpa, a self-proclaimed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to Nigeria to face charges.
Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, Director of Defence Information, revealed in a statement that the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Chris Musa, expressed satisfaction with Ekpa's recent legal troubles in Finland. "The CDS is happy with his arrest in Finland, with the hope this will be a step towards his extradition to Nigeria so that he will face justice," Gusau stated.
Simon Ekpa, who resides in Finland, is under investigation for allegedly inciting public violence in southeastern Nigeria through social media platforms. Finnish authorities, including the Central Criminal Police, have accused Ekpa of spreading separatist propaganda linked to IPOB and promoting violence against civilians and law enforcement.
In February 2023, Finnish police arrested Ekpa in Lahti for alleged financial crimes, including soliciting funds through unlawful means. While released the same evening, investigations continued. Most recently, a district court in Lahti ordered Ekpa's remand for public incitement to commit crimes with terrorist intent in Nigeria, with offences dating back to August 2021.
The investigation has also implicated four other suspects, believed to have financed terrorism. Born in the 1960s and 1970s, these individuals allegedly committed crimes in Lahti in August 2022. Finnish police have highlighted the role of international cooperation in the ongoing investigations.
Simon Ekpa, a local politician in Finland affiliated with the National Coalition Party, has served as a deputy councillor and a member of the Lahti region's public transport board. Despite his political affiliations, Ekpa has frequently used social media to advocate for the secession of southeastern Nigeria and call for election boycotts.
The DHQ reaffirmed its commitment to ensuring that Simon Ekpa faces justice for his alleged involvement in activities that have destabilized southeastern Nigeria.
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