We’re monitoring Ekpa’s legal proceedings in Finland, says FG

We’re monitoring Ekpa’s legal proceedings in Finland, says FG

 The Federal Government has said it is closely watching the
legal case of Simon Ekpa, a Nigerian-Finnish citizen and leader of the
proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, after his arrest in Finland on charges
of terrorism and inciting violence.

 

The ministry disclosed this in a statement by Kimiebi
Ebienfa, the acting spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, on Friday
in Abuja.

 

He said that Ekpa was arrested on charges of inciting
terrorism and promoting violence.

 

Ekpa, a Finnish politician and Biafran political activist,
was reported to have in 2022 declared activation of Biafran government in exile
and himself leader in 2023 while in exile.

 

“The ministry wishes to confirm the arrest of Ekpa, a
Nigerian-Finnish citizen and prominent leader of the proscribed IPOB, by
Finnish authorities on Thursday, Nov. 21.

 

“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 Finnish authorities alleged that Ekpa used social media
platforms to spread separatist propaganda, incite violence, and encourage
illegal actions, which had caused significant disruptions in the southeast of
Nigeria.

 

“Finnish investigators had also linked him to incidents of
violence in Nigeria, which were believed to have been fuelled by his online
activities.

 

“The arrest of Ekpa follows sustained diplomatic pressure by
the Nigerian government on Finland to take action against his activities,
linked to violence and instability in the southeast of Nigeria.”

 

It explained that the request for action featured during
high-level engagements between the two countries.

 

It described the arrest of Ekpa as a significant development
in tackling the activities of IPOB and neutralising the influence of
transnational actors and their impact on national security.

 

“The ministry will continue to monitor the legal proceedings
and provide further updates as the case progresses,” he said. (NAN)

Source: We’re monitoring Ekpa’s legal proceedings in Finland, says FG

 - NigerianEye

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