Finland’s response to complaints against Nigeria’s Simon Ekpa

The Finnish government said on Tuesday it had begun responding to the Nigerian government’s charges against Simon Ekpa, a Nigerian-Finnish man accused of leading a brutal pro-Biafra separatist movement in southeastern Nigeria.

Finnish Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen said at a press conference in Abuja, Nigeria, together with her Nordic counterparts, that Ekpa’s case was currently being heard in a Finnish court.

“We have taken up the matter and have been in discussion with the Nigerian authorities… and this entire process is within the purview of our judicial system,” Waldmen said, informing those gathered that the issue was raised during a meeting with Nigerian government officials on Tuesday.

She did not disclose details of the legal proceedings.

But for years, the Nigerian government has been calling on the Finnish government and the European Union to take drastic measures to stop Ekpa’s fiery social media campaign, which has stoked killings and instability in southeast Nigeria.

Waldmen and other representatives from Nordic countries arrived in Nigeria on Monday to discuss peace and security and to boost trade and investment cooperation between their countries and Nigeria.

The first group visit by high-ranking Nordic officials is also being accompanied by Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Tobias Billström, Iceland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Thordis Kolbrun Reykfjord Gylfadottir, Norway’s Minister of State for International Development Björg Sandkjær and Denmark’s State Minister for Foreign Affairs Eva-Marie-Frida Balllöse.

The Nordic ministers said they met on Tuesday with officials from the Nigerian government and the West African regional organisation ECOWAS.

They said their discussions with the Nigerian government covered issues of common interest such as security, economic cooperation, education, trade and investment, and the rule of law.

According to Waldmen, the Ekpa case, which has strained diplomatic relations between the Finnish and Nigerian governments, was also discussed, but he did not mention the Nigerian-Finnish person by name.

Although Ekpa is not specifically named, her account of the incident unmistakably points to him, and his affair has caused a rift in diplomatic relations between Nigeria and Finland.

The case has left Finland in the difficult position of having to navigate the blurry line between Ekpa’s right to freedom of expression and the criminality of his inflammatory social media activity that has led to killings and other violence in southeast Nigeria.

Self-proclaimed Prime Minister of Biafra

Ekpa, the self-described “Prime Minister of the Government of the Republic of Biafra in Exile,” has claimed responsibility for attacks on members of Nigeria’s security forces and people suspected of being sympathetic to Nigeria.

He celebrates these attacks as retaliation for the terror unleashed on “Biafran territory” by Nigerian security forces.

Ekpa lives in Finland and advocates extreme measures to secure independence for southeastern Nigeria and parts of neighbouring countries as the state of Biafra, a movement that sparked the Nigerian civil war from 1967 to 1970.

His methods include brutally enforcing an illegal curfew in the region on Monday and attacking federal agencies within reach of his brutal enforcers. Experts are yet to grasp the full extent of the economic fallout from the curfew, which people are following for fear of being attacked.

Ekpa broke with detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, over the best approach to realise their common goal of a sovereign Biafra state.

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Kanu, a dual British-Nigerian citizen, has been in continuous custody since June 2021 by Nigeria’s national police, the State Security Service (SSS). He was first arrested in 2015 for separatist activities and held until he was released on bail in 2017. He was rearrested in Kenya in June 2021 and has been in custody since then. He is facing a treason charge at a Federal High Court in Abuja in relation to his separatist activities.

The Nigerian government has accused Finland and the European Union of shielding Ekpa and continuing to destabilize the southeast region.

The rule of law is respected

Waldmen stressed on Tuesday that Finland would follow the principles of the rule of law in dealing with Ekpa’s case.

“Finland strictly adheres to the rule of law,” she said, adding that the issue was not a political one and could only be decided by Finnish courts.

“This is a justice system issue and both justice systems are working together on this matter and we hope that it will be resolved soon,” she said.

The Nordic ministers stressed their countries’ commitment to deepening ties with Nigeria and the entire West African region.

They are scheduled to visit Accra, Ghana to continue promoting investment and trade cooperation.