The Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has distanced himself from media reports suggesting that the Federal Government has initiated an extradition process for separatist leader Simon Ekpa.
In a statement released on Friday through Kamarudeen Ogundele, the Special Adviser to the President on Communication and Publicity, Fagbemi clarified that the claims misrepresented his comments during the Stakeholders/Citizen Engagement Forum held in Abuja on Thursday.
Fagbemi explained that during the forum’s question and answer session, he stated that the Nigerian government has been engaging with Finnish authorities to ensure Ekpa faces justice for his actions, not that an extradition process had begun.
He further elaborated that since Ekpa’s alleged crimes involve cross-border activities, the Nigerian government is closely monitoring the trial proceedings in Finland before determining the next steps.
The AGF also urged the media to exercise caution and refrain from spreading speculative reports on this sensitive matter.
Ekpa, a leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), is currently facing terrorism charges in Finland, where he is standing trial.
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