The Finnish Minister for Foreign Affairs, Elina Valtonen, on Tuesday in Abuja, said the Finnish Government has stated acting on complaints by the Nigerian Government against Simon Ekpa.
The Minister disclosed this during a press conference she addressed alongside her Nordic counterparts, in Abuja. She revealed that Ekpa’s case is now before Finnish courts.
She said, “We have taken this up and discussed this with the Nigerian authorities… and the entire process is within our judicial system.”
Ms. Valtomen noted that the issue came up during a meeting with Nigerian government officials on Tuesday in Abuja.
The Minister, however, did not provide details of the legal process against Ekpa.
Recall that for years, the Nigerian Government has demanded drastic actions from the Finnish Government and the European Union Simon Ekpa. The FG has urged the Finnish and EU Government to stop Ekpa’s fiery social media activities that have been fueling killings and instability in Nigeria’s Southeast region.
According to reports, the Finnish Minister, Ms Valtomen and her Nordic counterparts arrived in Nigeria on Monday. Their visit is in connection to deliberation on peace and security. They are also to promote trade and investment cooperation between their countries and Nigeria.
Among her entourage include the Minister for Foreign Affairs of Sweden, Tobias Billström. The Minister for Foreign Affairs of Iceland, Thórdís Kolbrún Reykfjörd Gylfadóttir and the State Secretary for International Development of Norway, Bjørg Sandkjær. Also among them is the Under Secretary for Foreign Policy, Denmark, Ms. Eva Marie Frida Barløse.
Addressing journalists after the meeting, the Nordic Ministers said they met with the Nigerian Government and officials of the West African regional body, ECOWAS, on Tuesday.
According to them, issues of security, economic cooperation, education, trade and investments, and the rule of law, among other topics of shared interests, came up in the deliberation with the Nigerian Government.
They also informed that Ekpa’s case, which has strained relationship between the Finnish and Nigeria was also discussed.
Though Ms. Valtomen avoided mentioning the name of the Nigerian-Finnish citizen at the centre of the discussion.
Without mentioning Ekpa’s name, her description of the case pointed unmistakably to Simon Ekpa.
The Minister, however, stressed that the principle of the rule of law would guide Finland’s handling of Ekpa’s case.
She said, “Finland operates very strictly by the rule of law.”
“The matter is not a political question but an issue that would be decided solely by Finnish courts.
“It is a question to the judicial system, and both our judicial systems collaborate on this matter.
We hope that we will be able to close it soon,” She added.
The Nordic ministers emphasized the need for their countries’ to deepen relationships with Nigeria and the broader West African region.
source: Premium Times
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