By Paul Dada
The Federal Government has denied commencing an extradition process for Biafran agitator and separatist, Simon Ekpa.
The FG made the denial in a statement issued by Kamarudeen Ogundele, Special Assistant on Communication and Publicity to the Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN.
The statement which was issued on Friday, said media reports misrepresented the comments Fagbemi made at a stakeholders’ engagement held on Thursday in Abuja.
“The attention of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has been drawn to media reports where he was erroneously reported to have said that the federal government had commenced an extradition process against Simon Ekpa.
“The report is untrue and a complete departure from what the AGF said at the Stakeholders/Citizen Engagement Forum held on Thursday in Abuja.
“Ekpa, a leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), is currently standing trial in Finland for charges filed against him by the Finnish government,” the statement said.
The statement further clarified that Fagbemi only said the FG was discussing with the Finnish government on making sure Ekpa was held accountable.
It said, “To set the record straight, what the AGF said during the question and answer session was that the Nigerian government had been engaging with Finnish authorities to ensure that Simon Ekpa is held accountable for his actions.
“He explained that since the crimes committed by Simon Ekpa were cross-border in nature, the Nigerian government eagerly awaits the outcome of the proposed trial in Finland to have an informed decision on the next step to take.”
