Senate Seeks Extradition Of Simon Ekpa, Turns Down Motion For Release Of Nnamdi Kanu

By Ayodele Oni

The days of Simon Ekpa, factional leader of the Independent Peoples of Biafra, (IPOB) may be numbered as Nigeria’s  Senate, has advised the Federal Government to seek for his extradition and possible prosecution.

This is just as the Senate rejected the motion for the release from detention of the IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu.

Both decisions were fallouts of the Wednesday sitting of the uppermost legislative chamber in Abuja.

Ekpa is reportedly behind the weekly continued sit at home being observed by people of the south east, which has led to disruption of economic activities and loss of lives.

It condemned the Monday sit-at-home in the South East geopolitical zone and asked the federal government to collaborate with the Finnish government and extradite a pro-Biafran agitator, Simon Ekpa, for prosecution.

The upper chamber also resolved to invite the Minister of Foreign Affairs (when appointed) and relevant stakeholders to carry out thorough investigation as well as bring other sponsors of the act to book.

The motion to release from the detention the leader of the proscribed IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu was moved by Senator Osita Izunaso (Imo West)believing that this will address the constant sit-at-home order enforced by unknown gunmen in the South-East.

The motion, which was co-sponsored by other lawmakers from the South-East, noted that the senators were aware that thousands of innocent lives had been lost since the action started, and properties worth over a trillion Naira had been destroyed resulting in investors leaving the region.

Izunazo said, “The sit-at-home civil disobedience actions in the South-East have led to the disruption/destruction of economic activities and immeasurable financial losses for businesses, workers, and the local economy. Because, when people are forced to stay at home and businesses remain closed, productivity declines and income is reduced, affecting livelihoods and economic growth.

“The “sit-at-home” protests disrupt the education of students, leading to missed classes and delays in academic progress.

“And such prolonged disruptions have long-term effects on students’ learning outcomes and educational development;

“Disturbed that disruption of essential public services, such as healthcare, transportation, and waste disposal, continues to have a severe impact during “sit-at-home” protests which adversely affect the well-being and safety of the general population living in the South-East.”