Following the arrest of self-proclaimed Biafran Prime Minister, Simon Ekpa, in Finland, there has been no official comment from President Bola Tinubu or any members of his administration regarding the incident.
Ekpa, along with four others, was detained by Finnish authorities in Lahti on charges related to public incitement to commit crimes with terrorist intent. The Finnish District Court issued the detention order, citing evidence that Ekpa used social media to promote separatist rhetoric associated with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a group advocating for the secession of southeastern Nigeria. These activities are alleged to have begun as far back as August 2021. Additionally, Ekpa has been previously investigated for suspected financial misconduct, including raising funds through questionable methods.
Despite the significant media attention surrounding the arrest, there has been no formal response from the Nigerian presidency. According to Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, the appropriate authorities to comment on the matter would be the National Security Adviser (NSA) or the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF). Onanuga suggested that these officials would be the ones best positioned to address the issue.
Daniel Bwala, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy Communication, further clarified that he is not yet aware of President Tinubu’s stance on the matter and cannot speculate on his position. He explained that the president, currently out of the country on an official trip, has not been adequately briefed to make a public statement on the arrest.
Bwala elaborated, stating that in matters like this, the President’s position would be informed after receiving relevant updates. “The natural course of action is that the Nigerian Embassy in Finland would first brief the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which would then likely relay the information to the National Security Adviser or the President himself. Once the President is fully briefed, we would then know his official stance on the matter,” Bwala said.
He added that, while the President is abroad, it would be premature for any spokesman to issue statements without confirmation from the head of state. “It would be irresponsible for a spokesman to take a position without knowing the President’s view. We must wait for the official briefing before any public statement is made,” Bwala asserted.
The Special Adviser further emphasized that, in a rule-of-law-based society, it is typically the Attorney General who coordinates responses to legal matters of this nature, possibly in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. As the Foreign Minister may also be traveling with the President, Bwala suggested it is too soon to anticipate an official comment from the presidency.
In conclusion, while the arrest of Simon Ekpa continues to generate considerable discussion in both Nigerian and international media, the government has made it clear that it is awaiting a proper briefing before making any official comments on the matter.
