Simon Ekpa, a self-proclaimed disciple of the detained leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, has been issued a 48-hour ultimatum by the government of Finland to withdraw the sit-at-home order imposed on election days in the Southeastern region of Nigeria.
In a letter addressed to the IPOB leader and dated February 15, 2023, the Finnish government warned that Ekpa would be charged with international terrorism if he fails to comply with the directives.
Earlier, Ekpa declared the sit-at-home order in protest against the continued detention of the IPOB leader in the custody of Nigeria’s secret police, Department of State Services (DSS).
However, in the letter, signed by Prime Minister, Sanna Mirella Marin, Nigerians in Finland have laid complaints about Ekpa’s illicit activities of imposing sit-at-homes in the eastern part of Nigeria.
The letter reads, “Following complaints by Nigerians in Finland and the Nigerian Government about your various pronouncements, using social media outlets, to impose sit-at-homes in Nigeria, you are hereby warned to desist from such nefarious activities which are capable of disturbing the peace and causing bloodshed.
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“More worrying to the Finnish Government is your imposition of sit-at-homes on days slated for democratic elections in Nigeria. This is an act of international terrorism.
“You are hereby directed to call off your planned sit-at-homes by pronouncing through the same media outlets, you used for your illegal pronouncements, a reversal of your sit-at-home orders.
“Mr. Simon Ikpa, you have 48 hours to reverse course or you will be arrested and charged with international terrorism.
“I have directed my Attorney General, Raija Toiviainen, to ensure that my directive is immediately carried out.”
Ekpa, a self-proclaimed disciple of Kanu, has been championing the restoration of the Biafra Republic and calling for the boycott of elections in the South-East region of Nigeria unless Kanu was released.
He has sustained Monday’s sit-at-home protest against the continued detention of Kanu in the custody of the DSS despite several court orders directing his unconditional release.
Recently, Ekpa declared five days of sit-at-home protests starting from February 23 to 28, a development that put fears in many Easterners that the presidential election could be derailed.