The Federal Government has disclosed it is liasing with Finnish authorities to extradite Simon Ekpa, a renown secessionist, over alleged actions which are prejudicial to the continued existence of Nigeria as one sovereign indivisible entity.
However, his return to Nigeria is cogged by the criminal charges he is currently facing in Finland.
This development was revealed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, at a public forum in Abuja.
He stated that the offences connected to Ekpa extend beyond Nigeria and involve Finland as well. As a result, Finland has to finish handling its own case against him before Nigeria can take the next step.
Ekpa, who is linked to the Indigenous People of Biafra, is being accused by the Nigerian government of offences that border on treason, treasonable felony, sedition and terrorism.
The Ministry of Justice insists the case will not be abandoned and will be followed through once his extradition can be successfully secured.
Fagbemi referred to other recent successful extraditions, including Hassan Bun Hussein Abolore Lawal and Okechukwu Josiah Odunna, who were sent to the United States earlier this year.
Another individual, Benjamin Nnanyereugo—also known as Killaboi—was returned to Nigeria from Qatar in April to face a murder charge involving the death of his girlfriend.
Between December 9 and 13 last year, the Ministry of Justice prosecuted over 230 cases related to terrorism and secured 226 convictions.
In addition, the government has created a team to better handle cybercrime cases by encouraging cooperation among law enforcement agencies.
