Simon Ekpa’s activities give credence to court of appeal’s affirmation of IPOB as a terrorist organization – Ejiofor

Simon Ekpa’s Actions Validate Court’s Terrorist Designation of IPOB — Ejiofor

Maduako Igbokwe I Monday, February 03, 2025

 

AWKA, Anambra – The human rights lawyer and lead counsel to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has stated that the activities of Simon Ekpa gave credence to the Court of Appeal’s judgment affirming IPOB as a terrorist organization.

Ejiofor, who spoke with journalists in Asaba, Delta State, during his 50th birthday celebration over the weekend, said that Simon Ekpa had actually destroyed and criminalized the struggle for Biafra.

According to him, before now, the average person believed in the struggle for Biafra’s independence, but today, trust and confidence in the movement have declined.

“I have had the privilege of reading parts of the Court of Appeal judgment affirming IPOB as a terrorist organization recently. I heard the observation made by one of the justices. If I may summarize, he said the concept which established IPOB was accepted by all Igbos, but in the course of the struggle, some criminal elements hijacked the process and turned it into a criminal and violent organization,” he quoted.

According to Ejiofor, in 2015 and 2016, every youth or reasonable Igbo person who had not adorned IPOB regalia saw himself as not belonging to the Igbo struggle.

“It was sweet; that was exactly what compelled me to get involved. I asked, ‘Why is the government arresting them for seeking to have their own state?’ The last straw that broke the camel’s back was the activities of Simon Ekpa. When he started, I fought him in the media and went to court with him. The case is still in court. I was shouting that this man is a fraudster, and most people started attacking me, calling me a betrayal. I replied that I prayed his activities would affect them.”

“Actually, Simon Ekpa took advantage of the situation that presented itself at the time and led our people into committing crimes, acts of terrorism, kidnapping, killings, raping, and trafficking in human parts. That changed the entire orientation of the movement. It takes time to explain to the average Igbo person that Ekpa was not speaking for them. Today, some have started realizing that he caused more harm in the struggle and to the entire Igbo land,” he said.

According to Ejiofor, Simon Ekpa negatively affected the public perception of IPOB, of which he is not a member.
He further stated that Ekpa, due to the situation, recruited many IPOB and Igbo youths and used them to commit crimes and the public then erroneously believed that IPOB was committing these heinous acts.

“When you arrest those Ekpa criminal elements, they will say they are IPOB. It is important we make a distinction between IPOB and Ekpa and his Biafra in exile.”

“Today, if a referendum is conducted, I don’t think any Igbo man would be happy to vote for the state of Biafra because of the atrocities Ekpa committed against them. How can you claim to be fighting for your people’s freedom while you are killing and kidnapping them? Ekpa destroyed the IPOB concept and implanted his criminal concept among his followers,” he said.

According to Ejiofor, by Ekpa’s actions, it will be difficult to convince the court that IPOB is not a terrorist organization.
He stated that Ekpa’s actions justify the Court of Appeal’s affirmation of IPOB as a violent and terrorist organization.