Featured, Politics
By Anthony Isibor
THE Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB consistently separated itself from the violent activities and deceptive preachings of Simon Ekpa, long before his conviction in Finland, according to human rights lawyer, Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor (KSC).
In a statement on Monday, September 1, 2025, Ejiofor described the Finnish District Court ruling against Ekpa as “a historic lesson” but stressed that IPOB, under the Directorate of State (DOS), had on multiple occasions dissociated itself from Ekpa’s violent agenda.
Ejiofor noted that while Ekpa projected himself as a successor to IPOB leadership, the movement’s Directorate of State repeatedly and vocally condemned his activities. IPOB, he said, made it clear to the world that it remained committed to peaceful self-determination and would not be associated with violence, fraud, or blackmail.
“From the very beginning, IPOB leadership distanced itself from Simon Ekpa,” Ejiofor explained. “His actions were never a continuation of IPOB’s peaceful struggle but rather a calculated attempt to smear its image and criminalise its activities.”
Despite IPOB’s public stance, Ejiofor said Ekpa deliberately encouraged his followers to falsely claim IPOB membership whenever arrested. This deception, he added, provided Nigerian authorities with excuses to clamp down on innocent IPOB members and tarnish the image of the globally recognised peaceful movement.
“Ekpa’s so-called ‘Biafra Liberation Army’ was a scam,” Ejiofor said. “But by misrepresenting his violent followers as IPOB, he not only endangered lives but also gave the state a pretext to brutalise peaceful agitators.”
Ejiofor stressed that Ekpa’s conviction in Finland should put to rest claims that his trial was about self-determination. Rather, he was convicted for fraud, deception, and funding violence — all of which IPOB had long warned against.
“The court never upheld any so-called right to self-determination,” Ejiofor clarified. “It found him guilty of criminality — the very same crimes IPOB repeatedly distanced itself from.”
A Call for Reflection
Ejiofor urged Nigerians, particularly the Igbo people, to learn from Ekpa’s conviction and never again fall prey to impostors who exploit the pain of their people. He reiterated that IPOB’s authentic struggle remains rooted in peaceful advocacy, not deceit or violence.
“The future of Ala-Igbo must never again be left in the hands of merchants of death,” he concluded. “The conviction of Simon Ekpa should serve as proof that IPOB was right all along to reject his agenda.”
A.I
Sept. 4, 2025
Tags: IPOB Simon Ekpa Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor
