The Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister of the United Biafra Republic, Ngozi Orabueze, has dismissed Simon Ekpa’s extradition claim by the Nigerian Government.
Orabueze, who doubles as the deputy to Ekpa, disclosed this in a statement on her X account on Thursday.
This comes amid widespread reports that the Nigerian government said it has concluded plans to extradite Ekpa, who was arrested by the Finnish government in November, 2024, on an alleged terrorism incitement in South-east Nigeria.
Reacting, Orabueze described the claims by the Nigerian government as lies.
According to her, Nigeria has no extradition agreement with Finland.
She stressed that Finland, like other European Union countries, does not extradite nationals outside the region.
Orabueze noted that USB is advancing discussion to lift the restriction on its Prime Minister, Ekpa.
“Simon interrogation is advancing, and we hope the restriction will be lifted soon; he has more access to his family now.” – Finland
“Nigeria has no extradition agreement with Finland, and Finland, like other European Union countries, does not extradite its citizens outside the region.
“The Nigerian government is frustrated that PM Simon Ekpa has no case to answer and will soon be out of investigation.
“Please ignore the lies from the Nigerian terrorist enabler—Christopher Musa,” she stated.
Checks by Nigerian Newssphere on Finnish extradition requirements for nationals showed that the country will not do so except for European Union members or Nordic states, data from the Ministry of Justice showed.
“Finland will not extradite its own nationals other than under certain conditions to the member states of the EU and other Nordic states,” the Finnish Ministry of Justice stated on its website.