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On Tuesday, in the Nigerian capital of Abuja, Finland’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Elina Valtonen, held a press briefing where she confidently reaffirmed her nation’s pledge to stand with Nigeria.
Based in Finland, Ekpa helms a breakaway faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) dubbed Autopilot, which has been championing the cause of secession and the establishment of a sovereign Biafran nation, comprising Nigeria’s South East and select areas of the South-South.
Ekpa is alleged to have been a key figure in instigating a wave of violence in Nigeria, marked by the enforcement of a contentious sit-at-home order and a series of attacks on security forces, further exacerbating tensions in the region.
In a bid to strengthen international ties, Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, Nigeria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, met with a group of high-ranking officials, including the Foreign Ministers of Sweden, Finland, and Iceland, and representatives from Norway and Denmark, on Tuesday.
The diplomatic contingent included an impressive lineup of Nordic and Baltic officials: Tobias Billström, Sweden’s Minister for Foreign Affairs; Elina Valtonen, Finland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs; Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir, Iceland’s Minister for Foreign Affairs; Bjørg Sandkjær, Norway’s State Secretary for International Development; and Eva Marie Frida Barløse, Denmark’s Under Secretary for Foreign Policy.
Tuggar, after the discussion with the five Nordic delegates, confirmed that the Ekpa issue was a central topic in his discussions with Valtonen.
“It was a priority. There is no way Nigeria would engage with Finland without raising the issue of Simon Ekpa vociferously,” Tuggar said.
Valtonen reaffirmed Finland’s commitment to working with Nigeria on the matter.
She emphasised that the case was being handled through Finland’s judicial system, which operates strictly by the rule of law.
“If you are referring to a specific person operating in Finland in a less than constructive manner, we have discussed this with the Nigerian authorities.
“Both our judicial systems are collaborating on this matter, and we hope it will soon be resolved.
“Both governments have stressed that the case is not a political issue but rather a judicial one, reaffirming their commitment to upholding the law as the proceedings unfold,” Valtonen stated.
The joint visit of the five Nordic ministers to Nigeria was a groundbreaking first, as it represented the inaugural occasion for such a delegation to venture beyond European shores.
