The Finnish government has assured Nigeria of the swift conclusion of legal proceedings involving Simon Ekpa, a controversial figure associated with the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB). Finland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Elina Valtonen, provided this assurance during a press briefing in Abuja on Tuesday.
Ekpa, who resides in Finland, leads a faction of IPOB known as Autopilot, which advocates for the creation of an independent state of Biafra, encompassing Nigeria’s South East and parts of the South-South regions. He is also accused of inciting violence in Nigeria, particularly through the enforcement of a controversial sit-at-home order and attacks on security personnel.
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 delegation included Sweden’s Foreign Minister Tobias Billström, Finland’s Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, 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.
Tuggar confirmed that the issue of Simon Ekpa was a central topic in his discussions with Valtonen. “It was a priority. There is no way Nigeria would engage with Finland without raising the issue of Simon Ekpa vociferously,” Tuggar stated.
Valtonen emphasized that the case is being handled through Finland’s judicial system, which operates strictly according to the rule of law. “If you are referring to a specific person operating in Finland in a less than constructive manner, we have discussed this with the Nigerian authorities. Both our judicial systems are collaborating on this matter, and we hope it will soon be resolved,” Valtonen stated.
Both governments have stressed that the case is not a political issue but rather a judicial one, reaffirming their commitment to upholding the law as the proceedings unfold.
The visit of the five Nordic ministers to Nigeria marks the first such engagement outside of Europe, highlighting the significance of the diplomatic discussions.
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