The Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led government has officially submitted extradition requests to Finland for Simon Ekpa, a pro-Biafran agitator.
Naija News reports that this was made known by General Christopher Musa, the Chief of Defence Staff.
The confirmation was made during an interview on Channels Television on Tuesday.
General Musa revealed that all required legal and procedural documents have been sent to Finnish authorities for consideration.
The extradition request is part of Nigeria’s broader efforts to address Ekpa’s alleged involvement in inciting unrest, promoting terrorism, and pushing for secessionist activities in the country.
Discussing Ekpa’s arrest, General Musa remarked, “Well, I’m sure he’s cooling off somewhere,” during Channels Television’s 2024 Year-In-Review program on December 31, 2024.
He added, “Legal action will be taken accordingly. I don’t want to say too much, but I’m glad he’s been arrested. The Federal Government has provided most of the required documentation to the Finnish Government, so I’m confident the right steps will be taken.”
Recall that Ekpa was arrested in November 2024 by Finnish authorities, alongside four others, on suspicion of terror-related offenses, including incitement to violence and terrorism financing.
Following his arrest, the Lahti District Court in Finland ordered his detention based on evidence of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent in Nigeria.
The separatist leader is accused of leveraging social media platforms to propagate separatist ideologies and advocate for violent secession in southeastern Nigeria.