Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Christopher Musa, on Thursday said that the arrest of Simon Ekpa, the self-proclaimed Prime Minister of Biafra Government In Exile (BGIE) and the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is a step towards his extradition to Nigeria to face terrorism charges.
General Musa said that he is pleased with the arrest of Ekpa.
According to a statement by Director of Defence Information (DDI), Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, General Musa is pleased with Ekpa’s trial in Finland.
According to Gusau: “CDS is happy with his arrest in Finland, with the hope this will be a step towards his extradition to Nigeria so that he will face justice.”
The Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland had earlier on Thursday ordered the remand of Ekpa on suspicion of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent.
The Finnish Central Criminal Police had arraigned him for his role in terror plaguing Nigeria’s Southeast region, local newspaper Helsingin Sanomat reports.
Otto Hiltunen, Crime Commissioner and head of the investigation, said: “The Police suspect that the man has promoted his efforts from Finland with means that have led to violence against civilians in the region of South-Eastern Nigeria.
“The man has carried out his activity, among other things, on his social media channels.”
Hiltunen also told the court there were four other suspects in Finland the police believed were financing Ekpa’s operations.
The report describes Ekpa as a native of Lahti, a city in Finland, with Nigerian roots.
According to records from the court the newspaper referenced, his crime spans three years from August 23, 2021, to November 18, 2024.
