Victor EzejaAn Association of Igbos residing in Germany – the Overseas Igbos Federation- has submitted criminal complaint against Simon Ekpa at the Prosecutor’s Office in Southern Finland over the crisis in Southeast Nigeria which he is allegedly encouraging.
The Germany-based group accused Ekpa of committing crimes against humanity, leading, participating, and funding terrorism activities in Southeast Nigeria.
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Mr. Ekpa, a lawyer based in Finland who claims to be the spokesperson of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) is currently leading a splinter group of IPOB who has been enforcing sit-at-home on Mondays since 2021, even when the mainstream leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has distanced himself from the exercise.
Hoodlums who hide under the guise of enforcing sit-at-home orders in the Southeast have unleashed mayhem on many residents. Many residents have either been killed, injured, or suffered loss of property for daring to come out on sit-at-home days.
Mr. Ekpa, who hails from Ebonyi State, has through online broadcasts and tweets been encouraging his supporters to adhere to the order while those who flout it should be dealt with.
They, just like Kanu, who is currently under the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), have been agitating for an independent state of Biafra.
With Kanu’s disapproval of the continued sit-at-home, and Ekpa group’s insistence on violently enforcing it, the big question many have asked in recent times is whether Ekpa is working for or against the interest of Kanu and IPOB?
Recently, Ekpa declared a five-day sit-at-home in the region’s five states of Enugu, Anambra, Abia, Imo, and Ebonyi.
The order, according to Ekpa, was to take effect from Friday, December 09, to Wednesday, December 14, 2022, in all states of the region.
This drew the ire of many citizens in Igbo land who described the order as a reflection of Ekpa’s height of irresponsibility.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, also rose in condemnation of the order, describing it as illegal.
The group, in a statement by its spokesman, Dr. Alex Ogbonnia, asked Ekpa if he is a hero or a villain, for taking such actions that have caused great havoc in parts of the region.
Ohanaeze also expressed worry over the unruly behaviour of Igbo youths who have become Ekpa’s apostles and are participating in the uncanny acts, thereby constituting a nuisance.
“Ohanaeze wonders how somebody that proclaims himself a leader will neither seek the opinion nor weigh the aspirations and political barometer of his people before going gaga. It is intriguing that the mainstream IPoB led by Mazi Nnamdi Kanu has long distanced itself from the Monday sit-at-home, yet, every Monday has remained sacrosanct in most parts of the South-East. It is, therefore, both incomprehensible and irreconcilable for the likes of Simon Ekpa to contemplate more days for the sit-at-home or what he called under lock and key in the name of Biafra.
“We, therefore, pose a question to Mr. Ekpa, as to whether he is a hero or a villain?” Ogbonnia said in a statement.
The body called on the governor of Ebonyi State, David Umahi, and other political stakeholders and public figures in the state to call Ekpa to order.
Kanu, through his lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejimofor, also urged the residents to ignore the order and go about their daily activities.
Ejimofor has also filed a suit against Ekpa at the at the Federal Capital Territory Abuja High Court. The suit marked CU/7 88/2022 include Simon Ekpa who hails from Umuezeaka Mgbo in the Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State; Anibueze Juliet from Ebonyi State; Obinna Victor Uzoaganaobi from Imo State; Chukwemeka Livingstone from Abia State and Raphael Chiamaka Ajaere from Imo State.
Ejimofor who didn’t give further details of the suit, demanded that Ekpa and his cohorts be brought back to Nigeria for trial.
He said, “I want to assure Simon Ekpa and his cohorts affected by this compelling legal action, that no matter the country you people believe to be presently hiding under its sovereign protection, the full arms of the law shall certainly catch up with you all, in the legal onslaught already commenced. This is just one in the long line of compelling civil and criminal litigations coming your way.
“The hour has come, and I wish to reiterate that you Simon Ekpa cannot escape from the long arms of the law.”
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist with six years of experience writing on economy, politics and energy. He holds a Masters degree in Mass Communication.
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