Attorney-general of the federation (AGF) and minister of justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has said the federal government is yet to commence the extradition process against the self-acclaimed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra, Simon Ekpa.
The AGF, through his spokesman, Kamarudeen Ogundele, said a recent report on the subject was untrue and a complete departure from what the AGF said.
He added, “Ekpa, a leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), is currently standing trial in Finland for charges filed against him by the Finnish government.
“To set the records straight, what the AGF said during the question-and-answer session was that the Nigerian government had been engaging with Finnish authorities to ensure that Simon Ekpa is held accountable for his actions.
“He explained that since the crimes committed by Simon Ekpa were cross-border in nature, the Nigerian government eagerly awaits the outcome of the proposed trial in Finland to make an informed decision on the next step to take.
“The AGF appeals to the media to be circumspect and avoid reporting speculations on the sensitive matter,” the statement said.
Ekpa, who parades himself as the “Prime Minister” of the Biafra Republic government in exile, was arrested in Lahti, Finland, in November 2024.
Finnish police accused him of using social media platforms to incite violence against civilians and authorities in Nigeria’s southeast, a region historically tied to the Biafran independence movement.
The Nigerian government had accused Ekpa of coordinating violent acts, including attacks on security operatives and enforcing disruptive “sit-at-home” orders in the southeast.
Ekpa, alongside four others were detained for allegedly financing such activities.