Finland-based Nigerian-Finnish Citizen, Simon Ekpa Takes Over From Nnamdi Kanu At Radio Biafra

Simon Ekpa, one of the arrowheads of the agitation for the state of Biafra in Finland has been appointed to take over daily broadcast on Radio Biafra following the detention of the leader of the Indigenous People Of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

The appointment was revealed by Mr Ekpa on his official Facebook page, noting it is honour to serve the Biafra nation and a call to serve lovers of freedom.

"Our Leader, Mazi Nnamdi on this day, 8th of July 2021 directed that I, Simon Ekpa should start broadcasting from Radio Biafra with immediate effect.

"On this note, it is honour, and at the same time, a call to service, a call to serve Biafra nation, and a call to serve lovers of freedom.

"This task, I will do with everything in me to see that we maintain the momentum and the legacy of our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, and IPOB.

"I will serve with everything in me and I will double my effort in media, diplomacy, and otherwise to the best interest of Biafra people.

"I am just a servant and I will serve. Our leader will continue to lead this struggle from wherever he is.

"I am Simon Ekpa, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu's disciple on Biafra restoration."

Simon Ekpa LL.M (Master of Laws) is a human rights activist and a legal researcher and advisor. 

He is a native of Ngbo in the Ohaukwu Local Government Area of Ebonyi State in Southeastern Nigeria. 

He is said to be a chief and one of those in line to the throne as the son of the late King Nwangbo (The Ogaba Idu of Ngbo clan).

Simon has been living in Finland for more than a decade. He is a Finnish citizen and a politician. He was recently elected deputy councillor in his municipality. 

Radio Biafra stands at the centre of the Biafra agitation struggle since its inception. 

Biafra Supporters Storm British Embassy In Germany, Demand Nnamdi Kanu's Release

Biafra supporters have staged a demonstration against the arrest of Nnamdi Kanu at the British Embassy in Berlin, Germany.

Kanu is the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) currently detained by the Nigerian government after being abducted in Kenya and brought to Nigeria. 

Hundreds of Nigerians were seen marching towards the embassy singing Igbo native songs and carrying Biafra flags and placards with different inscriptions.

Some of them wore customized shirts with Biafra boldly written on them.

It was observed that they made use of the public address system while observing social distancing in line with COVID-19 protocols.
The protest had been announced a few days earlier with the announcement asking protesters to gather by 10 am on July 9.

It has earlier reported the Kanu's lawyer, Aloy Ejimakor said the British High Commission in Nigeria had acknowledged the receipt of the letter written on behalf of the IPOB Leader, Kanu, seeking its support as a British citizen. 

Ejimakor on Tuesday said the British authorities guaranteed the protection of Kanu's welfare.

He said the letter specifically stated that Kanu will get the "support and welfare" of the British authorities.

Kanu through Ejimakor had petitioned the British High Commission, requesting "That Mr Kanu be granted every possible Consular Assistance to which he is entitled as a British citizen."

Hisbah Bans Use Of Mannequins For Display Of Clothes By Tailors, Boutique Owners In Kano

The Kano State Hisbah Board has banned the use of mannequins to display clothes by tailors, supermarkets and boutique owners in the state.

Hisbah Commander-in-Chief, Ustaz Harun Muhammad Sani Ibn Sina, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

Ibn Sina said the use of mannequins by tailors, boutique owners and others contravenes the provision of Islamic injunctions.

He added that the agency would educate them on how Islam frowns on the use of mannequins and send its officials to apprehend and prosecute offenders.

The statement read, “Hisbah prohibits the use of mannequins at shops, commercial and private residences and other public places. This violates Islamic provisions, it is also responsible for immoral thoughts among some members of the public, all these are against Islam.

“We have divided Kano into five areas for the monitoring and implementation of the ban across the state.”

Despite public condemnation, the destruction of beer and other alcoholic beverages by Hisbah has continued in some northern states.

For instance, in November 2020, about 1,975,000 bottles of beer estimated at N200 million were confiscated and destroyed by the security outfit in Kano State.

The agency established to enforce Sharia law in some states recently banned stylish haircuts, sagging of trousers, and playing of music at social events by disk jockeys. 

They have also been seizing tricycles from riders for adorning them with pictures considered to be obscene and against the tenets of Islam.

Hisbah also banned commercial motorcycle and tricycle riders from carrying two women at a time.

This was in addition to other unusual directives reeled out by the Islamic police.

Nigerian man bags life imprisonment for raping, impregnating 12-year old girl

A Jigawa High Court sitting in Hadejia has sentenced one Jibril Idi to life imprisonment for r3ping and impregnating a 12-year-old girl.

Presiding Judge, Hon. Justice Ado Yusuf Birnin Kudu convicted Idi after finding him guilty of the offence.

He said the offence is contrary to Section 282 (1)(e) of the Penal Code Cap P3 Laws of Jigawa State 2012 and punishable under Section 3 of the Penal Code (Miscellaneous Amendment) Law No. 9, 2014.

Jibril Idi had r3ped and got the girl pregnant on 27th May 2017, in Diginsa village of Birniwa local government area of Jigawa State.

The victim is a student of Junior Secondary School Diginsa in Birniwa local Government.

During the trial, the defendant had pleaded not guilty for the offence he was accused of.

The prosecution counsel, however, proved his case against the defendant by providing four witnesses and tendered 3 exhibits before the court.

The defence counsel also opened their defence and closed.

Hon. Justice Ado Yusuf Birnin Kudu found the defendant guilty of the offence of r3pe and sentenced him to life imprisonment to serve as warning to others of like mind. 

Woman disappears into Imo River from FMC Hospital

A middle aged woman suspected to be a police officer, whose name was given as Chidimma Ndubuisi, on Wednesday said to have escaped from the premises of the Federal Medical Center, FMC, Owerri, and jumped into the bush path of Nworie River from where she disappeared.

The incident Vanguard gathered in Owerri, happened at about 06:45pm, at the time a man said to be her husband, was running around for her to be admitted into the hospital.

Also, another eyewitness who spoke to Vanguard, said that it appeared as if the woman was passing through some “mental challenges” as she was brought into the hospital with her legs tied.

A resident who did not mention his name to Vanguard, said that trouble started when the woman loosened herself and ranway but another side of the story said it was those who the said husband left his wife in their care may have a better knowledge of how the woman escaped.

According to an eyewitness said to Vanguard that, “This thing happened at about 06:45 pm. When a police officer brought his wife to the Federal Medical Center, FMC, Owerri, may be the wife has mental challenges because her legs were tied.

“As the husband went into the hospital leaving the sick wife with security operatives, and before you know it we don’t know if is the woman that untied herself or the security operatives that did it.”

“The next thing we saw was a woman running towards the Nworie River, at the back of the Federal Medical Center, Owerri, and from there nobody saw her again. Some people said she jumped into the river while others said that she was hiding somewhere inside the bush around the Nworie River,” the eyewitness said.

Sunday Igboho cancels Lagos Yoruba Nation rally after attack, wife’s kidnap

 

Yoruba Nation activist, Sunday Adeyemo aka Sunday Igboho, has suspended the Yoruba Nation rally which was scheduled to hold in Lagos on Saturday.

Different rallies had been held in parts of South-West with that of Lagos scheduled for Saturday.

However, Igboho in an interview with BBC News Pidgin on Thursday, disclosed the rally in Lagos has been suspended.

Igboho said this hours after his house in Ibadan, Oyo State, was attacked by gunmen who reportedly killed two persons and abducted his wife.

He explained that he took the decision to cancel the Lagos rally because of safety and security issues.

Nigerian Government Discloses How IPOB Leader, Nnamdi Kanu Was Caught

The Nigerian government has finally broken its silence on how the leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, was trailed and arrested before he was extradited to Nigeria on Sunday.

Minister of Information and Culture, Lai Mohammed said Kanu was trailed by the Nigerian security agents for two years while he was having a luxury life outside Nigeria. 

Mohammed also said the Biafra separatist leader has a wide network of collaborators supporting his agitation movement, Blueprint reports. 

The minister said this while addressing journalists in Abuja on Thursday, speaking for the first time on the arrest and repatriation of Nnamdi Kanu back to the country.

Mohammed said, “It will interest Nigerians to know that for over two years, our security and intelligence agencies were on the trail of the proscribed IPOB leader as he lived a five-star life across several countries, travelling on chartered private jets, living in luxury apartments and turning out in designing clothes and shoes. 

"Of course, as we all saw, he was wearing an attire made by Fendi, a luxury Italian fashion brand, when he was arrested.

“We can tell you that the forensic investigation carried out so far has revealed a treasure trove of information on the proscribed IPOB leader and his collaborators."

Mohammed also boasted that all the accomplices of the IPOB leader will face the full wrath of law when they are caught.

“While the investigation continues, we assure you that none of the collaborators, irrespective of their standing in the society, will be spared. 

"They will all face the full wrath of the law for their activities that challenge our nation’s sovereignty and threaten its unity. No one, no matter how highly placed, is bigger than the country," he said.

Father Mbaka Breaks Silence On Nnamdi Kanu's Arrest, Says Nigeria May Collapse

Spiritual Director of Adoration Ministries, Enugu, Fr Ejike Mbaka has reacted to the arrest of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu.

On Tuesday, it was reported that Kanu was arrested in another country and taken to the Federal High Court, Abuja by heavy security operatives.

Kanu was blindfolded and sneaked into the courtroom by operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) in handcuffs while his legs were also chained.

The Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami (SAN), on Tuesday announced that Kanu was intercepted by operatives of Nigeria's security intelligence. 

Reacting during a sermon, Mbaka prayed that 'his people' locked up in prison be released. The cleric also cited the case of Joseph in the Bible who was locked up in prison but was rather favoured by the prison wardens. 

Mbaka also warned Nigerian leaders to do the needful, else there would be a revolution that the leaders will not be able to withstand. 

He also said Nigerians have normalised suffering, which ought not to be because the country is blessed. He, however, noted that the citizens are experiencing suffering as a result of wickedness from those in government. 

He said, ”The God in him will be in the jail with him because he says when you are suffering, I am also suffering, he says when you are afflicted, God is also afflicted, a place where the state prisoners were confined, he was there in the prison, lift your hands, we minister to all the prisons in the universe, especially in our country where our people are, we minister speedy release. 

“Do you know when Jesus was in the prison, a prison in the grave, they killed him and put him inside the grave, everybody thought it was all over? The end has come in the eyes of many but look at what the Bible says in Gen 39:21, but the Lord was with Joseph, anybody that you have in heart now and is in prison, may the Lord be with that person. 

“The Lord was with Joseph and showed him mercy, may the Lord show our people mercy and loving-kindness and gave him a favour, may they receive favour, may the Lord give my people a favour.

“The prison warden didn't pay any attention to the charges laid against Joseph for God was with him and he made whatever he did to prosper. Do you know someone can be in prison and his business is prospering elsewhere?

“That is going to happen because of the power of favour. And the Bible says the remnant of Jacob shall be in the midst of many people...God will hear us. The downfall of a man is not his end. My enemies, do not mock me because I shall arise.

“My enemies, do not laugh at me because God is about to do something. When the Israelites were in bondage in the land of Egypt, because of them, a lot of catastrophes started happening.

“That was how they carried the man Joseph and put him in the pit, did the end come? No. One day the king had a dream and only Joseph could interpret it. 

“Each time I speak, I am being misunderstood but if our leaders will not be careful and do what they need to do to put Nigeria on a good platform, one day this country will collapse.

“If they don't do what they should do and the youths are suffering and they don't provide jobs and the leaders are busy amassing wealth, keeping money for themselves and millions of Nigerian youths are watching them, a time is coming when what we are experiencing now will just be a skit. 

“The generation of now are delivering children and their children are coming up, very soon, by the time the children are grown, they may not tolerate this nonsense because there is no country in the world that is as blessed as Nigeria yet our leaders are not ready to use the resources to take care of the children in this country.

*Suffering has become part of our history but it will not continue like this forever. Everybody cannot be dumb at the same time, our suffering is very unnecessary, there is no reason why we should be suffering what we are suffering now apart from wickedness emanating from the portals of leadership. 

“There was no kidnapping in Nigeria, there was no banditry, hooliganism was at a miniature level. I knew when we were growing up, you can hardly hear that someone stole something. At that time, leadership was not to make money. There is no reason why this kind of trouble will be in a country blessed by God in this nature.

“I am seeing a time if the priests and men of God don't speak up, a time will come when we will be hearing that Bishop ABCD is arrested and cuffed and Priest will not talk. A time is coming when children of God will not have faith in their men of God, when you tell them 'the Lord bless you', they say 'forget it'. 

“That time is coming when if we cannot speak for them now, they will not speak for us. That time is coming when offering baskets will suffer hunger because children of God will lose hope in their men and women of God. 

“If the men of God will not rise up and speak consistently for our youth, as I said, what we are experiencing now is nothing. 

“So, all those who are preparing for 2023 and seeing it as a time to launder wealth, money that should be used to develop the city, they had better stop. 

“Anytime I speak about job provision, they begin to blackmail me, they don't know I am on earth for a mission, I shall be the hand for those who have no hands, I shall be the leg for those who have no legs, I shall be the voice for those who are voiceless, even when I want to keep quiet, I cannot because the Holy Spirit is using me.

“Again, let our leaders do the needful because when the major catastrophe happens in the future, they will not be exempted. If they like, let them jail everybody, that is not the solution, let them feel the pains in the eyes of teeming Nigerians. Go to the north, people are suffering yet a few are millions in Dollars, the same with other parts of the country. 

“Intimidation will not solve the problem. I know that the real people who should be in prison are those arresting people and locking them up. I know that after this message, they will invite me again.

“They are gradually succeeding in their gimmicks and tricks to make sure men of God are silent. Look at our medical experts, hot brains graduating from medical school, where do they work? Where are the facilities, how much does it cost? When they are sick, they fly out but when we are sick we are supposed to die here. Arrest is not the solution, there is agitation in the land. Let the leaders listen. Their stubbornness will one day crumble this nation. It is not about referendum.”

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Disowns Statement Saying Nnamdi Kanu Refused To Listen To Igbo Leaders

Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide, the apex Igbo socio-cultural organisation, has disowned a statement credited to it on the re-arrest and arraignment of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Chief Alex Ogbonnia, the National Publicity Secretary of Ohanaeze, said the group has yet to make known its position.

Ohaneze Ndigbo

He described those behind the fake statement as mischief-makers, impostors, and charlatans, PM News reports. 

“The attention of Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide has been drawn to a publication currently circulating in the media suggesting that Ohanaeze has issued a statement regarding the alleged re-arrest and re-arraignment of Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.

“Ordinarily, we would have ignored the said press release, but silence in this circumstance would mean giving validity to such fallacy by the unsuspecting public.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo led by Ambassador Professor George Obiozor has not issued any press statement on the matter.

“Ohanaeze Ndigbo as the apex Igbo cultural organisation does not issue public statements in a hurry,’’ he said.

The Ohanaeze spokesman noted that in the event of further breach of this warning, “Ohanaeze Ndigbo will be compelled to invoke the full weight of the law to deal with the offenders’’.

The group which issued the statement also called itself Ohanaeze Ndigbo Worldwide.

It said Kanu’s arrest will avert another civil war and bring peace to the South-East.

Its secretary, Okechukwu Isiguzoro, said the development will bring violent agitations in the South-East to an end.

He said Kanu’s refusal to listen to Igbo leaders’ advice led him to his present predicament.

The group advised the Nigerian government to handle the IPOB leader’s case carefully to prevent violent revolts from his followers.

“Nnamdi Kanu’s refusal to adhere to the advice of Igbo leaders, elders, and political leaders is the outcome of what had befallen him. He made a lot of enemies especially those that would have saved him and Federal Government will never lose grip on him again.

“We don’t think that any Igbo leader will stick out his/her neck for him, his re-arrest will eventually bring peace and stability to the region and averted another civil war that was raging on," he said.

IPOB Asks Members To Boycott Kenyan Airlines, Others Over Country's Involvement In Extradition Of Nnamdi Kanu

The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) says Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta will face the International Criminal Court for his alleged involvement in "abducting and repatriating its leader, Nnamdi Kanu to Nigeria".

The group said it was a shameful thing for Kenyetta to have belittled himself by participating in the arrest and handing over of Kanu to the Nigerian government, adding that all other collaborators would be revealed and dragged to the international court.

According to the statement made available to SaharaReporters by the group’s spokesman, Emma Powerful on Thursday, the group called on its members to shun Kenyan Airlines and other products and services from Kenya, saying the country has become the enemy of Biafra.
 
“We the global movement of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) ably led by our great and indomitable leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, express our disappointment with President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya and his Government over his role in the abduction of our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu and his subsequent smuggling into Nigeria by the wicked Nigeria security agents.
 
“We are still at shock why a President like Uhuru Kenyetta would stoop so low to collude with a terror-friendly Government like Nigeria under President Muhammad Buhari to abduct and dehumanise our leader for doing nothing other than demanding the freedom of Biafrans from the Nigeria bondage.
 
“Based on our preliminary findings, President Uhuru Kenyetta was very instrumental to the abduction of our leader in Kenya. The treacherous action of Uhuru Kenyatta against Nnamdi Kanu and Biafrans at large is a clear violation of the 1949 Geneva Convention, and United Nations Code.
 
“We still don't understand why Uhuru Kenyatta and some corrupt officials of his Government would prefer to betray Nnamdi Kanu and Biafrans? Is it because of Nigeria's oil money? Is it because of the paltry N100 million bounty placed on Kanu's head by some Northern elders? Why will President Uhuru Kenyetta sell our leader Mazi Nnamdi to the evil hands of the Nigerian government?
 
“It is so shameful that Uhuru Kenyatta would belittle himself in a manner he has just done,” the statement read partly.
 
The group stated that it cannot associate with the enemy of its leader as it maintained that Kanu was never arrested but abducted by the Kenyan government.
 
Also, the pro-Biafra separatist group reminded the Nigerian government that no harm should befall its leader who is in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS).

In the statement titled 'President Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya will be Held Accountable for Betraying Mazi Nnamdi Kanu - IPOB', the group said Kanu belongs to many international organisations. 
 
“By this wickedness and grievous sin, Uhuru Kenyatta has demonstrated his affection for the murderous Fulani terrorists ravaging entire Nigeria killing and maiming indigenous people in their ancestral lands. 
 
“Uhuru Kenyatta and his partners in crime should get ready to meet us at the International Criminal Court, ICC. This act of terror against our leader, Nnamdi Kanu, a NATO citizen, a British citizen with a British Passport, and a member of other international organisations will not go unpunished.
 
“As we continue with our investigations into this crime with a view to unmasking all the collaborators, we announce the following interim actions until further notice:
 
“We call on all Biafrans both home and in the diaspora to boycott travels with the Kenya Airlines; to immediately stop patronising any product made in Kenya, and to boycott any business dealings with Kenyans. We cannot be relating friendly with anyone collaborating with our oppressors to keep us in perpetual slavery!
 
“We also want to urge all Biafrans and members of the public to disregard all the concocted rubbish the wicked Nigerian Government and their agents have been peddling about how and where our leader was arrested.
 
“He was never arrested but abducted. All this cock and bull story is to twist facts and blackmail our selfless leader who they have seen as the major obstacle against their agenda to completely Islamise and Fulani Nigeria. Nobody should believe these lies. They are only intended to demarket our leader and puncture his global reputation and teeming followership.
 
“The global family of IPOB reaffirm our unalloyed loyalty, belief, and confidence in our leader, Nnamdi Kanu. Biafrans are united behind him in his current ordeal in the hands of our oppressors. We also wish to remind the Nigerian Government that nothing should happen to our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu,” the statement added.