By Our Correspondent
Dr. Ngozi Orabueze, Deputy Prime Minister and Chief of Staff of the self-declared United States of Biafra (USB), has launched a scathing rebuke of the Finnish government over its ongoing criminal investigation into Biafran separatist figure, Simon Ekpa.
In a statement issued Tuesday, Dr. Orabueze described the investigation by Finland’s Central Criminal Police as “a sham” driven by political and economic interests, accusing President Alexander Stubb’s administration of aiding Nigeria in suppressing the Biafran self-determination movement.
According to Finnish broadcaster Yle, the police now suspect Ekpa of inciting crimes with terrorist intent and participating in the activities of a terrorist group — charges being pursued in collaboration with Nigerian authorities. But Dr. Orabueze questioned the legitimacy of the investigation, calling it a one-sided campaign rooted in Nigeria’s alleged human rights violations.
“Who designated this group as terrorist — Finland or Nigeria? A country with one of the worst records for Christian persecution cannot be the world’s moral compass,” she said.
Dr. Orabueze further claimed that neither Ekpa nor any senior USB official has been interviewed by Finnish authorities, despite their leadership role in declaring Biafran sovereignty on November 29, 2024. She expressed concern over what she called the misuse of unverified intelligence from Nigeria, including bank account closures and terror-related accusations without independent verification.
“If this were a legitimate inquiry, why hasn’t Finland consulted Biafran representatives? Why are documented human rights abuses by Nigeria being ignored?” she asked.
She warned that Helsinki’s posture not only damages Finland’s democratic image but also enables a dangerous precedent of transnational repression, targeting peaceful secessionist advocacy under the guise of security enforcement.
Dr. Orabueze called for an immediate halt to what she described as politically motivated persecution of Ekpa and other Biafran leaders, including Nnamdi Kanu, who remains in detention in Nigeria.
“This is not just about Simon Ekpa. It’s about over 50 million Biafrans demanding freedom through peaceful means. Equating that to terrorism is an affront to justice,” she said.
She concluded by urging global powers to speak out, warning that silence will embolden authoritarian tactics and escalate threats to Christian communities and global stability.
