Ekpa Simon Njoku[2] (born 21 March 1985), generally known as Simon Ekpa, is a Finnish politician and Biafran political activist.[3][4] In 2022, while in Finland, he declared the activation of the Biafra Government In Exile (BGIE), and in 2023 declared himself the leader (titled "Prime Minister") of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE).[5][6][a][10][11]
Early life, education and career
Ekpa was born on 21 March 1985, in Ohaukwu, Ebonyi State, in the southeastern Nigeria.[12][13] Ebonyi State had previously been part of Biafra, a partially recognized state that declared independence from Nigeria and existed from 1967 until 1970.[14]
He won the 100 meters silver medal for Nigeria at the 2003 African Junior Athletics Championships in Cameroon.[12] He left athletics because of a knee problem.[15] In September 2021, Ekpa denounced Nigeria and vowed to return the medal he won for the country at the 2003 African Junior Athletics Championships,[16][17] and renounced his Nigerian citizenship the following year. In July 2024, he said he had returned the medals to the Nigerian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.[18]
Ekpa was the Chairman of the Igbo Union Finland from 2015 until 2019.[19][20] He has also served as the Chairman of the Playground Board, in the City Lahti, a position he held between 2017 until 2021.[21]
Since 2009, Ekpa has worked in the legal field, including as a legal advisor. However, Ekpa is not an attorney in Finland and does not represent his own clients in court.[27] Ekpa became familiar with the legal field while on internship at his ex-wife's law office.[28]
Ekpa has stated that he is an expert, a legal advisor, and has a Master of Law (LLM) degree from the WelshAberystwyth University, but upon inquiry by Yle, the university didn't give any information about the degree.[27][13] Ekpa has no apparent lower or higher legal degree.[27]
Ekpa became active in the "Biafra independence movement" in 2019. He was noticed by the Nigerian media after he posted a video claiming that Nigerian soldiers had been killed by Boko Haram. According to a Nigerian rights attorney, the purpose was to "disillusion Nigerians especially soldiers to resign from the Army".[29]
In July 2021, Ekpa was announced the lead broadcaster for Radio Biafra, associated with the separatist organisation Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) after the arrest of its leader, Nnamdi Kanu.[30][12][31] However, Ekpa was not allowed to broadcast[32][33] for violation of the rules of the organisation.[34] In 2022, IPOB accused Ekpa of illegal activities and stated that IPOB was a peaceful organization.[35] In July 2023, the Daily Post said that Ekpa led a faction of IPOB, as did Premium Times in May 2024.[36][37] According to Ekpa, IPOB was dissolved in a vote, renamed "Autopilot", and he became its spokesman. In August 2022, Ekpa declared "full activation" of the Biafran Government in Exile. He said: "we also wish to officially announce an alliance and activation of Biafra Government In Exile (BGIE) with the IPOB-Autopilot."[15][38] In April 2023, he announced that he had been appointed as the prime minister of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE).[39] Nigerian news media have variously referred to him as "prime minister" or "self-acclaimed prime minister" of the government-in-exile.[40][41][42][43] Ekpa stated in 2023 that "Biafra Republic Government In-Exile is registered, approved and legal. Agent of Nigeria, take note!"[44] As of 2024, it has a main office in Maryland, US.[15] IPOB called the BRGIE "double agents sponsored by the Nigerian government to ridicule the IPOB movement".[45]Suomen Kuvalehti said in 2024 that "Be it as it may, Ekpa is now at least the prime minister by some."[15]
Zubairu Dada, Nigerian minister, said the same year that "When [Ekpa] gives instructions, destruction follows. They cause killing, maiming, fires, whatever."[15][46] Nigerian general Christopher Gwabin Musa said "In the South-east, Simon Ekpa has become a menace to this country. The country must act on it diplomatically. [Ekpa] is having a freeway because [Finland] are encouraging him to do what he is doing. His utterances and actions are affecting what is happening in Nigeria." Ekpa said in 2024 that he is in daily contact with Kanu.[47]
According to a report from Yle, Ekpa's activism started to gather mainstream attention in February 2023. The local Kokoomus party in Lahti stated that it had started an internal investigation of these claims. A representative of the association Igbo Union Finland said: "He should stop inciting hatred and provoking. Ekpa does not represent the Igbo people of Finland". The Nigerian government has also demanded Finland stop Ekpa's activities.[48] Yle interviews with residents of Enugu suggested extensive fear of Ekpa and compliance with his "sit at home" orders which involved the 2023 Nigerian elections.[49] In late February 2023 Yle reported Ekpa is being suspected of having raised funds in an illegal manner by the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation.[50] As of early 2023, his speeches on Twitter had around 800,000 views.[9]
In December 2022, Ekpa declared a five-day sit at home civil disobedience campaign[51] in the southeast and parts of southern Nigeria[52] from 9 to 14 December 2022.[53] On 14 June 2023, Ekpa announced a week-long sit at home campaign from 3 to 10 July 2023,[54] which according to The Whistler recorded 70% compliance.[55] The sit-at-homes have been enforced by gunmen.[36][56] Ekpa has continued Kanu's sit-at-home orders, to protest the imprisonment of Kanu. In July 2023, he threatened that oil exploitations in the Biafra region would be stopped if Kanu wasn't to be released. However, Ekpa exonerated Kanu from the activities of the Biafra agitations. He said Kanu wasn't responsible for the actions taken to free him.[57][58] The head of ACLED's Nigerian branch criticizes 'Ekpa's faction' for attacking those not following this curfew. Ekpa denies violence against civilians, by stating "After the creation of the defensive forces, government forces no longer encroach on our area, because we have manpower all over, that protect".[15][46]
In 2023, he declared that the 2023 Nigerian general election would not be held in the Biafra region that year.[9][59] The Nigerian senate asked Finland to extradite Ekpa in July 2023.[60] In May 2024, BRGIE declared a three-day sit at home from 29 to 31 May. Ekpa said it was "necessary to enable Biafrans vote for the Liberation of Biafra". IPOB disagreed on the date, having earlier declared their own sit at home on 30 May.[61][62] The conflicting messages caused confusion and fear of violence in the region. The police and military said that people should go about their lawful business.[63][37]
In October 2023, Ekpa and cabinet members of BRGIE hosted a three-day convention in Helsinki, Finland, where a possible Biafran referendum was discussed with participants and attendants from Biafra.[64][65][66] In early February 2024, BRGIE announced the commencement of the Biafra Referendum and revealed the structure of the proposed independent state of Biafra.[67]
BRGIE has stated that it intends to issue a "declaration of Biafra independent state" in late 2024,[15][68] and that this declaration will bring peace and stability to the West African region.[69][70] Ekpa said mid-2024 that over 30 million votes had been recorded in an online voting "self-referendum" regarding the sovereignty of Biafra and as of July 2024, he said "over 49 million Biafrans have voted in the ongoing self-referendum".[71][72] In June 2024, the Organisation of Emerging African States (OEAS), a group that counsels African separatists, said that "the BRGIE referendum further consolidated the self-determination pursuit of the people of Biafra amid decades of alleged marginalization by the Nigerian government."[73][74] According to Ekpa, only BRGIE has the legitimate right to call for "Biafra's declaration".[75] In July 2024, Ekpa said the United States was to issue favorable statements for the Biafra declaration in the coming months.[76]
At the three-day convention he also announced the formation of the Biafra Liberation Army (BLA), a militant group fighting for secession from Nigeria.[77] He had previously claimed to control the Eastern Security Network, IPOB's armed wing,[9] and said this group was renamed BLA.[15] BLA was suspected to have killed a police in Imo State in November 2023.[78][79] According to Ekpa, it has a hundred thousand soldiers.[15] IPOB disassociated itself from the BLA.[80]
Yle had in February 2023 reported that estimates of the number of gunmen loyal to Ekpa vary greatly, from hundreds to tens of thousands.[9] In late 2023, Ekpa and Ambazonian activist Ayaba Cho Lucas announced a military pact between their respective organizations against the Cameroonian and Nigerian governments.[81] In June 2024, Ekpa signed a one-year agreement to be represented by the American lobbying firm Moran Global Strategies.[82]
In March 2024, the Nigerian Defence Headquarters (DHQ) declared Ekpa and more than 90 others "wanted" for "terrorism, kidnapping and other crimes."[83][84][85][86] Ekpa responded that he had nothing to do with Nigeria, and declared other people "wanted" in his turn.[87] In May 2024, the African Court on Human and Peoples' Rights in Banjul, the judicial arm of the African Union (AU), acknowledged a petition by the BRGIE regarding Kanu and a declaration of the restoration of independent state of Biafra.[88]
In May 2024, Ekpa urged the Nigerian government to engage the Finnish government to mediate in the conflict between BLA and the Nigerian army.[60] In June 2024, a former director of the Nigerian State Security Service called for the extradition of Ekpa to Nigeria. He urged the Nigerian government to initiate negotiations with Finnish authorities to repatriate Ekpa.[89] Nigeria's Chief of Defence Staff Musa also reiterated call for the arrest and prosecution of Ekpa. He accused the Finnish government and the European union of shielding Ekpa, thereby preventing his arrest.[90][91][92]
On 30 July 2024, the Biafra Defence Forces killed four Nigerian police operatives. Ekpa classified them as "terrorists" and declared that they should be withdrawn from the Biafran region.[11][93]
In August 2024, Simon Ekpa and the Biafra Republic Government in Exile ordered 30 days lockdown of the Nigerian government institutions in the South East region, from 28 August to 26 September, excluding private businesses. This action responds to the continued detention of Nnamdi Kanu and alleged killings of Christians and Biafrans. Ekpa demands Kanu's release and the withdrawal of Nigerian security forces from the region.[94][95]
On 20 August 2024, Ekpa unveiled the map of a proposed 40 "United States of Biafra" and announced 2 December 2024 as the date for its official presentation and issuance of a declaration of independence. Declaration happened on 29 November. The Nigerian government, while reacting to the development through the Defence Headquarters (DHQ), stated that it is engaging with the European Union to extradite Ekpa from Finland. In response, the Biafra Republic Government in Exile says it is inviting the Nigerian government to the Biafra restoration declaration convention in Finland for possible dialogue.[96][97][98]
Award
On 25 May 2023, the Universal Peace Federation awarded Ekpa Ambassador for Peace at the African Day Celebration in Helsinki, Finland.[7]
Arrest
On 21 November 2024, Ekpa was detained by the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation, (NBI) on accusations of alleged terrorist activities in Nigeria. Finnish police said the accusations are under investigation and it involves international cooperation. It said, the Nigerian government was reached out to for their comments.[99][100] The NBI also arrested four others over alleged terrorist offenses.[101][102]
Ekpa was remanded into custody by the District Court of Päijät-Häme on suspicion of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent. This marks his second arrest in Finland; he was previously detained in 2023 on suspicion of illegal fundraising but was released shortly after.[103]
^ abcHämäläinen, Veli-Pekka; Rautio, Marjatta (24 February 2023). "Lahtelaisen kapinajohtajan Simon Ekpan lakifirma ajautui talousvaikeuksiin – todettiin ulosotossa varattomaksi" [Lahti-based rebellion leader Simon Ekpa's law firm ran into financial difficulties - it was found to be unresourced in the foreclosure]. Yle (in Finnish). Retrieved 26 April 2024. Ekpa kuvaa yrityksensä verkkosivuilla itseään asiantuntijaksi erityisesti ulkomaalaislaissa. Hän ei kuitenkaan edusta asiakkaitaan itse oikeudessa eikä ole asianajaja. (...) Ekpa on kertonut verkkosivuillaan ja sosiaalisessa mediassa saaneensa tutkinnon walesiläisestä Aberystwythin yliopistosta. Yle kysyi asiaa yliopistosta. Sieltä ei annettu tietoja tutkinnoista. [Ekpa describes himself on his company website as an expert, especially in immigration law. However, he does not represent his clients in court himself, and he is not a lawyer. (...) Ekpa has said on his website and social media that he received a degree from the Welsh University of Aberystwyth. Yle asked the university about this. There was no information about any degrees].
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