Conviction: IPOB insists Simon Ekpa was never its member

Conviction: IPOB insists Simon Ekpa was never its member

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has once again disowned Finland-based separatist agitator, Mazi Simon Ekpa, declaring that he has never been a member of the movement.

The group was reacting to Ekpa’s Monday sentencing in Finland for terrorism-related offences, insisting that any attempt to associate him with IPOB was both false and misleading.

IPOB in a statement said Simon Ekpa’s status had already been clarified in a Finnish court.

“The record is clear. IPOB, under oath in a Finnish court, testified that Simon Ekpa has never held any position in IPOB or ESN. Ekpa himself, under oath, described himself merely as a content creator and he disowned IPOB,” the group said.

IPOB stressed that it remained a nonviolent organisation, duly registered under international law, and committed only to lawful self-determination. It accused Ekpa of creating parallel groups and initiatives that had nothing to do with IPOB’s structure or leadership.

Reaffirming its loyalty to detained leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, the group urged that his ongoing trial in Nigeria be conducted fairly and in line with international standards.

IPOB also appealed to the international community — including the European Union, United Nations, United Kingdom, United States, and Finland — to ensure that judicial processes relating to Kanu are not clouded by “unrelated cases or individuals.”

“The Finnish court has already clarified that IPOB is not linked to Simon Ekpa, and we expect that this should not be misrepresented,” the statement added.