IPOB Lawyer Calls For Peace As Ekpa’s Conviction Sparks Hope For South-East Recovery.
Human rights lawyer and counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Barrister Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has hailed the recent conviction of Simon Ekpa in Finland as a historic step towards restoring peace in Nigeria’s South-East, while criticising Igbo leaders for their silence on Ekpa’s violent activities. In a statement released on Wednesday, 3 September 2025, Ejiofor described Ekpa’s six-year sentence for terrorism-related offences as a vindication of IPOB’s peaceful stance and an opportunity to heal the region from years of bloodshed and deception.
Ekpa, a Finnish citizen of Nigerian origin and self-proclaimed leader of the Biafra Republic Government-in-Exile, was convicted by the Päijät-Häme District Court for inciting violence and equipping armed groups in the South-East between August 2021 and November 2024. Ejiofor accused Ekpa of exploiting the Biafra agitation for personal gain, orchestrating atrocities through his Biafra Liberation Army (BLA) while falsely claiming IPOB affiliation. “Ekpa’s actions turned Ala-Igbo into a theatre of violence, bloodshed, and blackmail, tarnishing the global reputation of our peaceful movement,” he said, noting that IPOB’s Directorate of State had repeatedly denounced Ekpa since 2022.
The lawyer lambasted South-East political leaders and elites for failing to publicly condemn Ekpa, suggesting their silence lent tacit support to his campaign of terror. “Their lips are sealed by cowardice, complicity, or convenience,” Ejiofor stated, urging Igbo leaders to rise to their responsibility and reject violence as a means of agitation. He highlighted the devastating toll of Ekpa’s actions, with countless families affected by murders, abductions, and destruction across the region. “No household has been spared the scars of this deception,” he added, calling for a collective effort to restore peace.
Ejiofor praised the Finnish court’s verdict as a lesson that no legitimate struggle can be built on fraud or violence. He recounted his own legal efforts against Ekpa, having challenged him in a Nigerian court for defamation, a case that remains active. The lawyer also commended the Nigerian government’s push for Ekpa’s extradition and the efforts of the National Security Adviser, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, and security forces in addressing regional insecurity. The conviction, he said, offers a chance for Ndi Igbo to reject criminality and rebuild trust in the pursuit of self-determination through lawful means.
Ohanaeze Ndigbo, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, echoed Ejiofor’s sentiments, urging Ekpa’s supporters to lay down their arms and embrace peace. The group expressed gratitude to the federal government for tackling the security challenges exacerbated by Ekpa’s actions, particularly the disruptive Monday sit-at-home orders. “This is a new chapter for the South-East,” said Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Ohanaeze’s factional Deputy-President-General, advocating for a non-violent path to address Igbo marginalisation.
As the South-East looks to recover from years of instability, Ejiofor called on the region’s youth to reject Ekpa’s “poisonous gospel” and support a peaceful struggle for Biafra, which he described as a divinely ordained right recognised under international law. With Ekpa’s incarceration and IPOB’s commitment to non-violence reaffirmed, there is renewed hope that the region can move towards healing, unity, and progress.