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- Simon Ekpa's lawyer denies reports of his imminent extradition to Nigeria, stating that the lawsuit is inactive pending successful Finland
- Ekpa, held successful Finland since November 2024, faces terrorism-related charges, with Finland yet to formally property charges oregon o.k. extradition
- Nigeria has expressed anticipation for Ekpa's extradition, with authorities officials citing his detention arsenic a affirmative measurement towards facing justice
Simon Ekpa, a cardinal fig associated with the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) group, remains down bars successful Finland, with ineligible discussions surrounding his imaginable extradition to Nigeria ongoing.
Ekpa has been held successful Finland since his arrest, facing charges related to terrorism and different transgression activities.
Source: Twitter
The Nigerian authorities has expressed a beardown tendency to spot him face proceedings successful Nigeria, with immoderate reports circulating that a Finnish tribunal whitethorn soon acceptable a day for his extradition, BBC News reported.
However, Ekpa’s lawyer, Kaarle Gummerus, responded to media reports suggesting that the Finnish courts person already ruled connected the matter.
Gummerus clarified that the lawsuit is inactive pending, and nary authoritative determination has been made connected Ekpa’s transportation to Nigeria.
“I bash not person immoderate accusation confirming that Simon Ekpa volition beryllium extradited to Nigeria. The lawsuit is inactive pending,” Gummerus told BBC News Pidgin past week.Details of Ekpa's extradition process
The contention surrounding Ekpa's extradition stems from his dual nationality; though helium is simply a Nigerian national, helium besides holds Finnish citizenship, Punch reported.
This complicates the ineligible process, arsenic Finland is nether nary work to extradite its citizens unless circumstantial conditions are met.
The Finnish District Court of Päijät-Häme initially sentenced Ekpa to situation successful November 2024, wherever helium has remained since.
Despite being placed connected Nigeria's Sanction List, alongside 16 different individuals linked to terrorism, it remains unclear whether Finland volition yet o.k. the extradition request.
What did Ekpa’s lawyer accidental astir the extradition?
Ekpa’s lawyer, Kaarle Gummerus, confirmed that the lawsuit is ongoing, and determination is nary circumstantial day for an extradition hearing.
He besides revealed that Ekpa would look successful tribunal successful June 2025 for pre-trial hearings.
“We’ve received the pre-trial record and are reviewing it. Simon Ekpa volition look successful tribunal successful June 2025,” Gummerus added.Meanwhile, the Finnish tribunal has not yet pressed ceremonial charges, leaving the lawsuit unfastened until May 2025, erstwhile a determination connected charges volition beryllium made.
Nigeria's stance connected Ekpa’s extradition
Source: Twitter
The Nigerian government, led by President Bola Tinubu, has expressed enactment for Finland’s determination to detain Ekpa.
The President praised Finland for its actions, emphasising that the Nigerian authorities volition not tolerate immoderate statements oregon actions that could incite part among the country’s people.
“We admit the Finnish authorities for their efforts successful detaining Simon Ekpa, and we anticipation they volition proceed with the extradition process,” President Tinubu stated successful January 2025.Tukur Gusau, the spokesperson for the Nigerian Defence Ministry, echoed the sentiment, noting that the apprehension could beryllium a important measurement towards Ekpa's eventual extradition to look justness successful Nigeria.
“We are hopeful that this volition pb to Ekpa’s extradition truthful that helium tin look justness successful Nigeria,” Gusau said.Simon Ekpa: Challenges successful the extradition process
Extradition betwixt 2 sovereign nations is ne'er guaranteed, arsenic each state indispensable hold to transfer the idiosyncratic involved.
In the lawsuit of Simon Ekpa, the process could beryllium influenced by respective factors, including the lack of a bilateral extradition statement betwixt Nigeria and Finland.
Chukwuma Ezeala, a ineligible expert, discussed the complexities of the process, stating that portion coercion is considered an planetary crime, determination are inactive conditions that indispensable beryllium met for extradition.
“Since some Finland and Nigeria are signatories to the Rome Statute, Ekpa could theoretically beryllium extradited, but this depends connected whether the required conditions are fulfilled,” Ezeala explained.He besides pointed retired that issues surrounding quality rights could impact the extradition decision.
If Finland believes that Ekpa’s rights would not beryllium protected successful Nigeria, they whitethorn garbage the request.
Vince Onyekwelu, a erstwhile British police officer and information analyst, further stated that the Nigerian government’s quality rights grounds could play a important relation successful Finland’s decision.
“If Finland believes that Nigeria would not uphold Simon Ekpa’s quality rights, they mightiness not hold to extradite him,” Onyekwelu stated successful a caller interview.Finnish authorities frost Simon Ekpa’s assets
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that reports making the rounds connected Saturday, December 14, disclosed that the authorities successful Finland had frozen the assets of Simon Ekpa, the self-acclaimed Biafran agitator facing allegations of terrorism-related activities.
A section paper successful the state reported that the Finnish authorities besides froze the assets of companies associated with Ekpa and 4 of his accomplices, who are besides successful remand.
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Source: Legit.ng
