The government of Finland on Tuesday, August 13, announced that it has begun addressing the Nigerian government’s complaint against Simon Ekpa, a Nigerian-Finnish citizen accused of leading violent pro-Biafra secessionist campaigns in Nigeria’s South-East region. Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Elina Valtonen, in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, said that Ekpa’s case is now under review by Finnish courts.....CONTINUE READING THE ARTICLE FROM THE SOURCE
“We have taken this up and discussed this with the Nigerian authorities… and the entire process is within our judicial system,” Valtomen said.
The issue came up during a meeting with Nigerian government officials on the same Tuesday.
For years, the Nigerian government has urged the Finnish government and the European Union to take strong measures to curb Ekpa’s incendiary social media activities, which are contributing to violence and instability in Nigeria’s South-East region.
Valtomen and her Nordic colleagues arrived in Nigeria on Monday, August 12, to discuss peace, security, and ways to boost trade and investment between their countries and Nigeria.
The group includes Sweden’s Foreign Minister Tobias Billström, Iceland’s Foreign Minister Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir, Norway’s State Secretary for International Development Bjørg Sandkjær, and Denmark’s Under Secretary for Foreign Policy Eva Marie Frida Barløse.
Nordic ministers met on Tuesday with the Nigerian government and officials from the West African regional organization, ECOWAS.
They said that their discussions with the Nigerian government touched on various topics of mutual interest, such as security, economic cooperation, education, trade and investments, and the rule of law.
Valtomen noted that discussions also included Ekpa’s case, which has strained Finland’s diplomatic ties with Nigeria, although she did not mention his name directly.
Despite not naming Ekpa, her description clearly referred to him, highlighting how his case has created a rift between Nigeria and Finland.
The situation has put Finland in a difficult position, forcing it to navigate the fine line between Ekpa’s right to freedom of expression and the criminal nature of his inflammatory social media activities that have led to violence in Nigeria’s South-East.
Ekpa, who styles himself as the prime minister of the Biafra Republic Government in-Exile, has taken responsibility for attacks on Nigerian security forces and those suspected of supporting Nigeria.
He boasts that these attacks are retaliation for what he calls the terror inflicted by Nigerian security forces on Biafra territory.
From his residence in Finland, Ekpa advocates for radical measures to achieve the secession of Nigeria’s South-East region and parts of neighbouring states as an independent Biafra nation, echoing the separatist sentiments that led to Nigeria’s Civil War from 1967 to 1970.
His tactics include enforcing a harsh, illegal stay-at-home order on Mondays in the region and attacking federal government buildings.
The full economic impact of this stay-at-home order, which people follow out of fear, is still not fully understood.
Ekpa has parted ways with Nnamdi Kanu, the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), over how to achieve their common goal of an independent Biafra.
Kanu, who holds both British and Nigerian citizenship, has been held by Nigeria’s State Security Service (SSS) since June 2021.
He was initially arrested in 2015 for his secessionist activities and was detained until being granted bail in 2017.
After being re-arrested in Kenya in June 2021, he has remained in custody and faces charges of treasonable felony at the Federal High Court in Abuja for his separatist activities.
The Nigerian government has accused Finland and the European Union of protecting Ekpa, allowing him to continue destabilizing the South-East region.
On Tuesday, Valtomen emphasized that Finland will base its handling of Ekpa’s case on the principle of the rule of law.
Finland adheres strictly to the rule of law, she said, noting that the issue is not a political matter but one that will be resolved solely by Finnish courts.
“It is a question to the judicial system, and both our judicial systems collaborate on this matter, and we hope that we will be able to close it soon.” She said.
The Nordic ministers highlighted their countries’ commitment to strengthening ties with Nigeria and the wider West African region.
They are set to travel to Accra, Ghana, to further promote investment and trade cooperation.
