“HISTORIC LESSON”: IPOB LAWYER IFEANYI EJIOFOR HAILS SIMON EKPA’S CONVICTION, CALLS HIM “MERCHANT OF DEATH”
GREATRIBUNETVNEWS–Ifeanyi Ejiofor, lead counsel for the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has welcomed the conviction of Simon Ekpa in Finland, describing it as a “historic lesson” against deceit, violence, and false prophecy. Ekpa was sentenced to six years imprisonment on Monday in Finland for his involvement in activities that funded violence.
Key Highlights of Ejiofor’s Reaction:
– Condemnation of Ekpa’s Activities: Ejiofor condemned Ekpa’s activities as a “fraudulent empire built on lies, violence, and exploitation,” aimed at disrupting the authentic self-determination struggle.
– Damage to IPOB’s Reputation: He accused Ekpa of damaging the reputation of the peaceful global IPOB movement by establishing parallel groups like the self-styled “Biafra Liberation Army”.
– False Claims and Deception: Ejiofor claimed that Ekpa misled vulnerable supporters with false promises of warships, fighter jets, and unrealistic independence dates while enriching himself abroad.
– Call for Stock-Taking: Ejiofor urged the people of South-East Nigeria to learn from the episode and embark on stock-taking, rejecting criminality, fraud, and blackmail as tools of agitation
Ejiofor’s Stance on Ekpa’s Conviction:
– No Surprise: Ejiofor stated that the conviction did not come as a surprise, given Ekpa’s activities built on lies, violence, and exploitation.
– Warning to Others: He warned that no legitimate struggle for liberation can be built on deceit, fraud, and violence against one’s own people, labeling those who glorify Ekpa as “merchants of death”.
– Call for Peaceful Struggle: Ejiofor emphasized the need for truth, justice, and peaceful struggle, urging the public to think critically and question claims that seem too good (or bad) to be true
Reflecting on the conviction, Ejiofor said, “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 urged the public to think critically and question Ekpa’s claims, noting that no reasonable person should have believed his stories about warships and combat jets in Igbo land. The entire scheme was a scam designed to exploit the people he claimed to free.
“Even now, some of his misguided followers are being deceived into believing that his conviction somehow ‘upheld his right to self-determination.’ That is false. The court never upheld any such right because his trial and conviction were never about his purported right to self-determination. Rather, the court convicted him of 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 actions: “The chickens have indeed come home to roost. But what about the thousands of lives that have been wasted as a result of Ekpa’s poisonous preachings? Many of his misguided followers languish in detention without trial. Many more were killed extrajudicially. Their parents and families remain in pain.”
He criticized the lawyers who secretly associated with Ekpa but never openly defended his followers or sought their release, leaving victims abandoned while Ekpa prospered abroad.
Calling for a fresh start, Ejiofor declared: “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.”
He concluded with a warning: “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.”
“May 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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