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The legal counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has described the conviction of Simon Ekpa by a District Court in Finland as a “historic lesson against fraud, violence, and misguided preachings,” insisting that the ruling confirms what he had long warned—that Ekpa’s empire of deceit and bloodshed would eventually collapse.

In a detailed reaction issued on Monday, Ejiofor declared that the development “does not come as a surprise,” stressing that he had always known “the weight of his infractions, the inherent weakness of his defence, and the inevitable collapse of the fraudulent empire he built on lies, violence, and exploitation.”

Ejiofor traced what he called Ekpa’s “history of deceit and violence” to his attempt to usurp the authority of the IPOB Directorate of State (DOS). According to him, “From the very beginning, when Simon Ekpa launched his treacherous bid to usurp the authority of the Directorate of State (DOS) of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), his agenda was never hidden.

“He was aided, both openly and discreetly, by individuals and groups whose mission was to derail the genuine struggle for self-determination, sow confusion, and ultimately reduce Ala-Igbo into a theatre of violence, bloodshed, and blackmail”, the IPOB lawyer said.

He lamented that Ekpa’s deadly declarations, amplified across media platforms, lured vulnerable people into violence, while his so-called “foot soldiers,” when apprehended, falsely claimed to be IPOB members, thereby providing cover for the Nigerian state to brutalise innocent agitators and criminalise the peaceful movement.

Recalling his own sacrifices, Ejiofor said: “Throughout this dangerous era, I raised my voice on every available platform, including mainstream media, warning our people to reject Simon Ekpa and his poisonous preachings. I was attacked, vilified, and branded a saboteur simply because I insisted on speaking the truth.”

Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor qaccused Ekpa of fabricating lies about warships, fighter jets, and independence dates to extort money, while living in comfort abroad as “our youths died at home.”

The IPOB lawyer expressed disappointment that even after repeated false prophecies, some elites continued to support or remain silent about Ekpa’s actions. He reminded the public that IPOB leadership under the DOS had always condemned and distanced the global movement from Ekpa’s violence.

On the lessons from the conviction, Ejiofor stated: “Simon Ekpa’s conviction under a jurisdiction that respects human rights and the rule of law offers deep lessons. It demonstrates that no amount of lies, propaganda, or fraudulent appeals to ‘self-determination’ can shield a criminal enterprise built on fraud, bloodshed, and deception.”

He dismissed as false any claim that the Finnish court upheld Ekpa’s right to self-determination, clarifying: “The court never upheld any such right because his trial and conviction was never about his purported right to self-determination; rather, the court convicted him for fraud, deception, and actions that funded violence against the same people he professed to defend. That is the height of criminality.”

Ejiofor lamented the human cost of Ekpa’s campaign, saying, “What about the thousands of lives which have been wasted as a result of Ekpa’s poisonous preachings?”, he queried.

He added that “Many of his misguided followers languish in detention without trial. Many more were killed extrajudicially. Their parents and families remain in pain. Throughout this era, not one of the lawyers secretly hobnobbing with Ekpa was bold enough to openly defend his followers or seek their release. Instead, the victims of his scam were abandoned while he thrived abroad.”

The IPOB lawyer urged a new beginning for Ala-Igbo (Igbo land): “It is time for stock-taking. Time to reject criminality, fraud, and blackmail as tools of agitation. Time to rise above emotional manipulation and stand firmly for truth, justice, and peaceful struggle. Ekpa may be convicted today, but the scars of his deceit and the devastation left behind will take years to cleanse from Ala-Igbo.”

Concluding, Ejiofor warned against glorifying impostors: “Let the lesson be clear to all: no legitimate struggle for liberation can be built on deceit, fraud, and violence against one’s own people. Those who still glorify Ekpa or tread his path are not freedom fighters, they are merchants of death. The future of Ala-Igbo must never again be left in the hands of impostors who exploit the pain of their people for personal gain.”

He prayed that “Chukwu Okike Abiama, whose holy name has been shamelessly invoked by both the righteous and the fraudulent, deliver our land and guide our people into light, wisdom, and peace.”

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