Simon Ekpa.
The government of Finland has given 48 hours for Simon Ekpa to withdraw the sit-at-home order he imposed on election days in the Southeastern region of Nigeria or he would be arrested and charged with international terrorism.
The directive is contained in a letter to Ekpa which was signed by Prime Minister, Sanna Mirella Marin, and dated February 15, 2023.
In the letter obtained by SaharaReporters on Thursday morning, the Finnish
Prime Minister Marin stated that the move followed complaints by Nigerians in Finland and the Nigerian Government about Ekpa's various pronouncements, and sit-at-home orders using social media platforms.
The letter reads, "Following complaints by Nigerians in Finland and the Nigerian Government about your various pronouncements, using social media outlets, to impose sit-at-homes in Nigeria, you are hereby warned to desist from such nefarious activities which are capable of disturbing the peace and causing bloodshed.
"More worrying to the Finnish Government is your imposition of sit-at-homes on days slated for democratic elections in Nigeria. This is an act of international terrorism.
"You are hereby directed to call off your planned sit-at-homes by pronouncing through the same media outlets, you used for your illegal pronouncements, a reversal of your sit-at-home orders.
"Mr. Simon Ekpa, you have 48 hours to reverse course or you will be arrested and charged with international terrorism.”
"I have directed my Attorney General, Raija Toiviainen, to ensure that my directive is immediately carried out," the Prime Minister warned.
Finland envoy's meeting with the foreign minister.
The Finnish Ambassador to Nigeria, Leena Pylvanainen on Tuesday described as an "irritant and an issue that " is very much a concern for us as well," the activities of the Finland-based Biafran agitator, Simon Ekpa, and its destabilizing impact on the security of the Southeast region of Nigeria.
Simon Ekpa has maintained that the 2023 general elections due in a few days, will not hold in the Southeast and has at several times given sit-at-home orders that resulted in killings and arson attacks by his followers on residents of the Southeast and their properties.
Speaking on Tuesday during a meeting with Nigeria's Foreign Affairs Minister, Geoffrey Onyeama, the Finish envoy said her country had been observing and investigating the developments to see how best to handle it.
Pylvanainen who attended the meeting at the invitation of the Foreign Affairs Minister said: "This is something I want to make very, very clear. Finland condemns all violence and incitement to violence in all its forms. Political aims, of course, should be pursued through political means only. That is very clear,” she said.
“It stems from the fundamentals of our actions, it’s enshrined in our constitution, and we do underline our support and the importance we see for these elections not only for Nigeria but for the entire region. So we’re with you very much on that.
“We share very much the concerns regarding the security situation in the southeast. Yes, there are problems in other parts of the country as well. But this is an issue that we are directly concerned with.
"This is an issue we have been discussing, we share the concerns. We have discussed the matter and as I mentioned, our law enforcement agencies are in touch and are cooperating.
“We do have this irritant, as you call it on our bilateral agenda. And it is a topic on which we have been cooperating, our authorities have been cooperating, and there have been contacts between the law enforcement agencies of Nigeria and Finland on this topic.
“We’ve had several discussions here in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which we do appreciate very much because you said this is an issue of national concern to Nigeria nationally, but it is very much a concern for us as well.
” Finland of course, as a member of the EU has been part and parcel of these efforts. We have our long-term observers on the ground at the moment. We are very much interested in the safe and secure conduct of these elections throughout the country.
“Information has been shared, and we hope for more of that for all authorities to do their job and that is to investigate really what is going on and to see how this fits into the legal framework of Finland because we are of course speaking of a Finnish citizen.
“Also, he’s a double citizen as far as I know of Nigeria and Finland, and he’s therefore as you rightly said, protected and safe and sound in his home in Finland.
"But we have to consider his rights as well. So everything has to be done according to Finnish legislation, which has very strong protections for freedom of speech.
“But of course, stipulations against hate speech and incitement to violence for us, the situation is really of concern on three accounts, even you could say it is of concern.
"Most of all, of course, on the ground in the Southeast, but also what we have seen over the recent weeks, ” Pylvanainen said.
Nigerian government complaint.
The envoy's response followed complaints by Nigeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs, Geoffrey Onyeama that the upcoming elections in the country are being threatened by the activities of Simon Ekpa saying that the government views it as a "very unhealthy development.”
Mr. Zubairu Dada representing the Foreign Affairs Minister said, “We thought it was important for us to have this chat with you to let you know that, of course, he’s living in the comfort of his home there in Finland and we know that we have been in touch with your good self.
“We’ve had some time to ensure that we arrest this situation but it appears the situation is getting out of hand. And we’re saying enough is enough.
"We should let you know, in very strong terms that it’s high time you mean and back Nigeria with the quest that something is done immediately because he threatens the forthcoming elections.
“The sad thing is that this gentleman has a lot of followers out there. And the moment he issues these instructions, what happens is that you have destroyed the very next day.
"They embark on killings, maimings, and burning and you name it. And we believe this is not acceptable.
“It’s important to get to know that these elections are being threatened by the actions of someone and that something needs to be done immediately, to address the situation.
"This in essence is why we thought it was important for us to have this discussion with you, to let you know our concerns and the displeasure of the Government of Nigeria and the people of Nigeria on this very unhealthy development.”
Calls for Ekpa's arrest.
Several groups had called for the arrest and investigation of Simon Ekpa over the insecurity in the Southeast and for insisting to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the 2023 elections in the region.
Last year, the Igbo community in Finland
called on the Finish and the Nigerian governments to restrain, investigate and bring Simon Ekpa to justice for inciting violence in the Southeast region.
In a statement by its spokesperson, Kingsley Orji, the Igbo community condemned Simon Ekpa's actions and utterances which it said "have taken on a dangerously violent dimension of killing and devastation," and firmly urged Ekpa
to stop his campaign to disrupt Nigeria's 2023 election in the East.
Arrest Simon Ekpa now - Nigerians
Nigerians from across the globe also signed a petition last year asking the Finnish government, the European Union, and the Nigerian Government to arrest Simon Ekpa.
This was in reaction to Ekpa's 5-day- sit-at-home order given to residents of the Southeast region which led to the wanton destruction of lives and properties unleashed on the region by gunmen purportedly enforcing Ekpa's order.
The petition read: “We call on the Finnish Government, EU, and The Nigerian Government to arrest Mr. Simon Ekpa, and investigate all his heinous crimes and terror activities in Eastern Nigeria."
Arrest and repatriate Ekpa- Ohaneze.
Ohaneze Ndigbo, the Igbo apex socio-political organization also called for the arrest of Simon Ekpa, over the killings and destruction in the Southeast.
The Secretary-General of Ohanaeze, Okechukwu Isiguzoro said Ekpa should be repatriated to Nigeria to stand trial for the violence he is instigating in the Southeast, saying, "Ndigbo has identified Simon Ekpa as the overseas provocateur and instigator for the current killings in Imo state, the destruction of public properties in Enugu State, and disturbance of public peace and sporadic shootings in Ebonyi State.”
We have sued Simon Ekpa- IPOB.
Also last year, the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB), instituted legal action against Simon Ekpa, saying that was the first in a series of legal actions lined up against Mr. Ekpa because of his " violent, disturbing and false declarations."
IPOB lawyer Mr. Ifeanyi Ejiofor in a statement at the time said, “Today, we formally commenced a legal action before the FCT High Court against Simon Ekpa, which action is founded on a plethora of grave infractions arising from his violent, disturbing, and false declarations.
"I may not release further details here so that it will not prejudice the robust legal actions already lined up for him and his cohorts. It shall be coming in piecemeal. This is the first batch."
Simon Ekpa described himself as a disciple of the detained leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, and the head of the autopilot Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.
But, IPOB has at several times clarified that Ekpa has never been a member of the group.
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