Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has come out to debunk the swirling reports claiming that the Federal Government has started extradition processes against Simon Ekpa, a factional leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The clarification came on Friday through a statement issued by Fagbemi’s Special Assistant on Communication and Publicity, Kamarudeen Ogundele. According to the statement, the media twisted what the AGF actually said during a stakeholders' forum held on Thursday in Abuja.
Fagbemi stressed that at no point did he announce that extradition proceedings had begun. Rather, he said the Nigerian government was engaging Finnish authorities over the actions of Ekpa, who is currently standing trial in Finland for charges brought against him by their own government.
“The reports making the rounds are simply inaccurate,” the statement read. “What the AGF said was that discussions are ongoing with Finland to make sure Simon Ekpa is held responsible for his actions, especially since the nature of his activities cut across national borders.”
To put it simply, the Nigerian government is waiting to see how the Finnish trial plays out before making any decision on possible further steps.
Ekpa has been a controversial figure, especially among pro-Biafra supporters, with many accusing him of inciting unrest in Nigeria from abroad. However, Fagbemi’s office made it clear that international legal processes are delicate and must follow proper diplomatic channels.
The AGF also urged journalists and media outlets to be more cautious when reporting sensitive matters like this. He emphasized that jumping to conclusions or misquoting government officials can lead to misinformation and public confusion.
So for now, there’s no extradition in motion—just diplomatic back-and-forth and a wait-and-see approach as Finland proceeds with its case against Ekpa.
Bottom line: the Nigerian government is watching closely, but no formal extradition move has been made—at least, not yet.
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