•••He must bear his own burden
By Kamsi Anayo, Awka
The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has distanced itself from the conviction of Simon Ekpa in Finland, saying his activities have no connection with the group.
“Ekpa must bear his own burden. Ekpa’s conviction is his burden and his alone. IPOB will never carry it. IPOB is a peaceful movement registered under international law, committed to lawful self-determination,” it added.
In a statement signed by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, IPOB on Monday described any attempt to link Ekpa to its movement as “a brazen fraud against truth and justice.”
“The world must know that the question of Simon Ekpa’s non-membership in IPOB is already judicially settled in Finland.
“We had, alongside Simon Ekpa, testified in a Finnish court where it was made clear that he had no ties to the organization.
“IPOB under oath in a Finnish court testified that Simon Ekpa has never held any position in IPOB or ESN. Ekpa himself under oath described himself merely as a ‘content creator,’ admitted he disowned IPOB, and boasted that he would destroy IPOB,” it added.
It, however, accused the Nigerian government of launching a smear campaign to discredit its detained leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
It stated that the Federal Government was deliberately using Ekpa’s case as a diversionary tactic to influence judicial proceedings in the trial of Nnamdi Kanu, whose no-case submission ruling before Justice James Omotosho has been adjourned until Oct. 10, 2025.
The group also appealed to foreign governments and institutions, including the European Union, Finland, the United States, the United Kingdom, and the United Nations, to intervene in the matter.
“The Finnish court exonerated IPOB of any link to Simon Ekpa. We demand clarity be issued to Nigeria to stop this malicious misuse,” it said.
