Lateef Fagbemi, Nigeria’s Attorney General and Minister of Justice, has refuted reports suggesting the Federal Government started extradition proceedings against Simon Ekpa, a factional leader of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
In a statement released Friday, May 9, by his Special Assistant on Communication and Publicity, Kamarudeen Ogundele, Fagbemi called the reports inaccurate, saying they twisted remarks he made at a stakeholders’ engagement in Abuja on Thursday.
“The 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,” the statement said.
“The report is untrue and a complete departure from what the AGF said at the Stakeholders/Citizen Engagement Forum held on Thursday in Abuja.”
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Ekpa is currently facing trial in Finland on charges brought by Finnish authorities. Fagbemi clarified that Nigeria is only engaging with Finland to ensure Ekpa faces justice for his actions.
“To 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,” the statement continued.
“He 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.”
Fagbemi urged media outlets to report accurately and avoid speculative stories.