ABUJA, Nigeria – The Finnish government has assured Nigeria that legal proceedings involving Simon Ekpa, a controversial figure associated with the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), will be expedited and concluded soon. This assurance was provided by Finland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Elina Valtonen, during a press briefing held in Abuja on Tuesday.
Simon Ekpa, who currently resides in Finland, leads a faction of IPOB known as Autopilot, which advocates for the creation of an independent state of Biafra, covering Nigeria’s South East and parts of the South-South regions. Ekpa has been accused of playing a pivotal role in instigating violence in Nigeria, particularly through the enforcement of a controversial sit-at-home order and other attacks targeting security personnel.
On Tuesday, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, engaged in high-level discussions with the Foreign Ministers of Sweden, Finland, Iceland, and representatives from Norway and Denmark. The discussions were centered around Ekpa’s activities and their impact on Nigeria’s security.
The delegation included Tobias Billström, the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden; Elina Valtonen, Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs; Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir, Iceland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs; Bjørg Sandkjær, the State Secretary for International Development from Norway; and Eva Marie Frida Barløse, Under Secretary for Foreign Policy from Denmark.
During the discussions, Ambassador Tuggar emphasized the importance of addressing the issue of Simon Ekpa. “It was a priority. There is no way Nigeria would engage with Finland without raising the issue of Simon Ekpa vociferously,” Tuggar stated, confirming that the matter was central to his talks with Valtonen.
The Finnish delegation assured Nigeria that the legal process against Ekpa would be handled swiftly and in accordance with Finnish law, underscoring their commitment to maintaining strong diplomatic relations with Nigeria while addressing the concerns raised by the Nigerian government.
