Finland Says Government Is Waiting On The Court To Take Action On Simon Ekpa

The Finnish government said on Tuesday that Simon Ekpa, a leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), must go through the judicial process before being extradited from the Nordic country.

In various videos and online posts, Simon Ekpa has incited violence against the Nigerian government and called for Biafra’s secession from Nigeria.

The Nigerian government has consistently demanded his extradition from Finland, where he is currently residing, to face charges in Nigeria.

During a press conference in Abuja during the visit of five Nordic ministers of foreign affairs, Finland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Elina Valtonen, assured that the judicial case involving Simon Ekpa would be resolved soon.

She stated that Ekpa’s case is judicial rather than political, and Finland, as a democracy that values the rule of law, would prefer to wait until the case against the Biafran leader is resolved in court before taking action against him.

She stated that “the case against the person in question is a judicial issue that must run its course.”

However, she stated that the judicial hurdle must first be removed.

She stated: “If you mean a specific person who is operating in Finland in a non-constructive manner, then we have taken this up and discussed it with the Nigerian authorities in full collaboration.

“And the entire process takes place within our judicial system, as well as in Finland, where the rule of law is strictly followed, as we see in Nigeria.

“It is not a political question, but rather a question for the judicial system, and both of our judicial systems are working together to resolve this issue, which we hope to do soon.

The other Nordic ministers at the meeting are Mr Tobias Billström, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden, Ms Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir, Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland, Ms Bjørg Sandkjær, State Secretary for International Development, Norway and Ms Eva Marie Frida Barløse, Under Secretary for Foreign Policy, Denmark.

All of the ministers stated that they are in Nigeria to increase trade with their respective countries, and that Nigeria is an important partner.