The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has firmly refuted reports suggesting that the Nigerian government has initiated extradition proceedings against Simon Ekpa, a prominent figure linked to the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
Speaking through his Special Assistant on Communication and Publicity, Kamarudeen Ogundele, Fagbemi made it clear on Friday that the reports circulating in the media were based on a misinterpretation of his earlier comments during a recent stakeholder engagement held 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 statement clarified.
The AGF further noted that these reports did not reflect what he had said at the Stakeholders/Citizen Engagement Forum. While Ekpa is indeed a leader of the proscribed IPOB, he is also standing trial in Finland for charges brought against him by Finnish authorities.
Fagbemi clarified that the Nigerian government had not yet pursued extradition but was instead in ongoing discussions with Finland. These talks are focused on ensuring that Ekpa faces accountability for his alleged actions.
“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,” the statement added.
