AGF Denies Extradition Process Against Simon Ekpa
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, has denied claims that the Federal Government has commenced extradition proceedings against Simon Ekpa, a factional leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
In a statement issued on Friday by his Special Assistant on Communication and Publicity, Kamarudeen Ogundele, Fagbemi said the reports misrepresented his remarks at a stakeholdersโ engagement held on Thursday in Abuja.
The statement read, โThe 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.
โThe report is untrue and a complete departure from what the AGF said at the Stakeholders/Citizen Engagement Forum held on Thursday in Abuja.
โEkpa, 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.โ
According to the statement, Fagbemi had only explained that the Nigerian government was in talks with Finnish authorities to ensure that Ekpa is held accountable for his actions.
โTo 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.
โHe 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,โ the statement added.
Fagbemi urged the media to exercise caution in reporting on the matter and to refrain from publishing speculative claims.
Sodiq Yusuf is a trained media practitioner and journalist with considerable years of experience in print, broadcast, and digital journalism. His interests cover a wide range of causes in politics, governance, sports, community development, and goodย governance.
