The Federal Government of Nigeria has denied report that it has commenced moves to extradite the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, factional leader, Simon Ekpa.
This was disclosed by the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), on Friday.
In the statement issued by his Special Assistant on Communication and Publicity, Kamarudeen Ogundele, Fagbemi denied the report.
He stated that the report misrepresented the comments he made at a stakeholders’ engagement held on Thursday in Abuja.
The statement read: “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 report is untrue and a complete departure from what the AGF said at the Stakeholders/Citizen Engagement Forum held on Thursday in Abuja.
“Ekpa, a leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), is currently standing trial in Finland. For charges filed against him by the Finnish Government.”
Ogundele stated that Fagbemi had only explained that the Nigerian Government was in talks with Finnish authorities to ensure that Ekpa, who is currently facing trial in Finland, is held accountable for his 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,” he added.