Senate asks FG to extradite Simon Ekpa, condemns sit-at-home in Southeast

The Senate has called on the Federal Government (FG) to extradite the factional leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Simon Ekpa from Finland.

The red chamber also condemned the Monday sit-at-home being observed across all the states in the South-Eastern region of Nigeria.

The Senators reached the resolution during a plenary session at the National Assembly in Abuja on Wednesday.

They also asked the FG to collaborate with the Finnish Government and extradite a pro-Biafran agitator, Ekpa, for prosecution.

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

Meanwhile, Enugu residents took to the streets on Tuesday, in protest against the continued Monday sit-at-home in the state, expressing support for Governor Peter Mbah to end the illegal norm.

Mbah had on June 5 banned the observance of sit-at-home in the state, urging residents to go about their legitimate duties on Mondays and other days. He had also stepped up security around the state.

The governor had threatened to sanction businesses and institutions that refused to open on Tuesday.

However, as early as 8:00 am., residents, under the auspices of Coalition of Civil Society groups, gathered and marched round the state to encourage people to return to their Monday businesses.

Led by their coordinators, Oninye Mammah, Bismark Oji, Charles Ogbu, Eberechukwu Anigbo and Amaka Nweke, they carried banners with inscriptions, “Enough Is Enough;” “Say No To Sit-At-Home In Enugu;” “Enugu People Must Be Freed From The Shackles Of Those Who Want To Hold It Down;” “We are tired of Monday sit-at-home,” among others.

Ekpa earlier this month announced that there will be a two week sit-at-home in the South East.

He said following the demand by the Biafra people for more sit at home civil disobedience, the Biafra Republic Government In-Exile (BRGIE) and Biafra De Facto Government In Homeland wish to notify Biafrans that there will be a sit-at-home civil disobedience starting from 31 July, 2023 to 14 August, 2023.

According to him, the sit-at-home is to demand “the immediate and unconditional release of IPOB leader Mazi Nnamdi Kanu who remains illegally detained at the DSS dungeon.”