While in court today, Simon Ekpa denies being Biafra Prime Minister, that he is just a member of IPOB.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has expressed joy following the arrest of Simon Ekpa by Finnish police, saying it marks a significant milestone in the collective journey towards healing and reconciliation.
The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, has expressed hope that Finland will extradite him to Nigeria to face justice following his arrest in the European country on Thursday.
Local reports indicate that Ekpa was remanded in custody by the Päijät-Häme District Court on charges of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent.
According to the police, Simon Ekpa, identified as the main suspect, was detained “on suspicion of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent,” while the four others were apprehended “for financing a terrorist crime.”
The police statement further revealed: “Claims will be heard in Päijät-Häme district court today, November 21.”
It elaborated that the investigation centers on “a Finnish citizen of Nigerian background, born in the 1980s, suspected of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent. The police suspect that the man has promoted his efforts from Finland by means that have led to violence against civilians and authorities as well as other crimes in the region of South-Eastern Nigeria.”
Crime Commissioner Otto Hiltunen, head of the investigation, stated: “The man has carried out this activity, among other things, on his social media channels.”
The four other suspects are accused of financing the activities under investigation. “All five suspects of the crime have been arrested during the beginning of the week,” the statement confirmed, adding that international cooperation has been integral to the preliminary investigation.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has expressed joy following the arrest of Simon Ekpa by Finnish police, saying it marks a significant milestone in the collective journey towards healing and reconciliation.
Ohanaeze disclosed this in a statement signed by its Secretary General Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro on Thursday.
According to the statement, the arrest marks a significant milestone in the collective journey towards healing and reconciliation as they stand firm in their resolve to advocate for a peaceful, prosperous Southeast and a united Nigeria, where the voices of all citizens are valued and respected.
The statement reads “The Apex Igbo Sociocultural Organisation, Ohanaeze Ndigbo, takes this momentous occasion to announce our unequivocal relief and support in light of the recent arrest of Simon Njoku Ekpa, the self-proclaimed leader of the Biafran independence movement. The ramifications of this event, executed by the District Court of Päijät-Hame in Finland, are monumental and expected to resolve the pervasive insecurity challenges that have beleaguered Southeastern Nigeria for far too long.
“Ekpa has been remanded in custody on serious charges of public incitement to commit crimes with terrorist intent. His tumultuous ambition to publicly declare a Sovereign Biafra Nation—a scheme set to take shape on December 2, 2024—was not only misguided but indicative of a reckless disregard for the profound consequences such a declaration would evoke. His intentions could have sparked uncontrollable civil unrest and perhaps culminated in another Biafran War, a prospect that the Igbo people have conclusively rejected and remain unprepared to engage in. The echoes of the previous conflict, which left indelible scars on our history, stand as a stark reminder of the devastation war brings.
“Upon this crucial arrest, Ohanaeze Ndigbo categorically denounces the notion that individuals like Simon Ekpa possess the capability or legitimacy to summon the Igbo Nation into a conflict. This organization acknowledges Ekpa’s disturbing record over the last three years, wherein he has systematically wreaked havoc upon the very fabric of our society and economy, implementing his illegitimate Monday Sit-At-Home directive with the aid of armed men who have terrorized our communities. The financial toll from these activities is staggering, amounting to a loss of over 22 trillion naira in investment opportunities, thereby stifling the economic viability of our region.
