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IPOB lawyer blames Igbo leaders’ silence for Ekpa’s atrocities in South-East

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A human rights lawyer and counsel for the Indigenous People of Biafra, Sir Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has said that the recent conviction and sentencing of Simon Ekpa by the Paijat-Hame District Court in Finland has once again exposed the strange blood and devastation flowing through the South-East region.

In a press statement released on Wednesday, Ejiofor blamed Igbo leaders and the political class in the region for their silence since Ekpa was convicted, saying their “silence or covert association gave oxygen to Ekpa’s fire” of unleashing atrocities in the region.

He described Ekpa as “a serial fraudster masquerading as a liberator”, whose actions have led the South-East to bleed profusely from the devastation and carnage unleashed by him and his foot soldiers.

He titled the press statement, ‘Strange blood in Ala-Igbo, when the pen becomes deadlier than the sword’, the lawyer lamented after every bloody outing by his foot soldiers. Ekpa mounted his online pulpit not to console or condemn, but to celebrate each atrocity.

According to him, for years the South-East region has bled profusely from the devastation and carnage unleashed by Ekpa and his foot soldiers, adding that no family, clan or kindred has been spared.

The statement read in part, “The recent conviction and sentencing of Simon Ekpa, a serial fraudster masquerading as a liberator, by the Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland on 1 September 2025, has once again torn the veil and exposed the strange blood flowing through parts of Ala-Igbo.

“While some carried out atrocities with machetes and guns, others, perhaps more dangerous, have inflicted a worse sacrilege with their tongues and keyboards: the promoters, the apologists, the social-media enablers who have glorified crime and cloaked terrorism in the false garment of agitation.

“Our political class is no less complicit. Many so-called leaders, by their silence or covert association, have given oxygen to Ekpa’s fire. Tell me: how many Igbo politicians have publicly spoken about his conviction? Their lips are sealed; their consciences bought by cowardice, complicity or convenience. But that, perhaps, is a tale for another day.

“Still, the central question remains: for how long shall Ndi Igbo live under the tyranny of fear? How many more mothers must wail before our elites rise to their responsibility? How many graves shall be dug before truth is spoken with courage? Evil thrives where good men keep silent, and today’s silence will be tomorrow’s complicity.

“Permit me to remind you: I personally took Simon Ekpa to court in Nigeria to challenge his falsehoods and defamatory crusade. The case subsists.

He was duly served with originating processes; yet, as is his character, he chose lies, deception and manipulation to mislead his gullible followers, including those who should know better.

“What deepens the wound is that, after every bloody outing, Ekpa mounted his online pulpit not to console or condemn, but to celebrate. He glorified the fear his agents sowed, boasted of their ‘successes’, and urged yet more terror. Today, his cheerleaders online clap for him and defend the indefensible, even when he posts grisly evidence of executions and barbarism on Igbo soil. Can such horrors ever find a place in a genuine agitation for freedom?”

He insisted that IPOB’s Directorate of State has publicly and repeatedly denounced Ekpa, distanced the global peaceful movement from his acts, and made clear that his conduct was not theirs.

He said a massive protest was organised, supervised, and carried out in Finland by the Directorate of State, adding that a strongly worded petition was also submitted to the Finnish Government, detailing the heinous activities of Simon Ekpa and affirming that he has no affiliation whatsoever with the peaceful global movement, and investigations were opened.

“Ndi Igbo in Finland faced scrutiny over his activities. Yet some among us shamelessly ignore these facts, preferring instead to elevate Simon’s lies above truth and reason.

“I will never lend my voice to fraud, nor will I keep silent while impostors deceive our people with poisonous gospel under the guise of liberation.

“Let it be clearly stated that the struggle for Biafra is divinely ordained; no mortal can quench that flame. The right of indigenous peoples to self-determination is recognised under international law, and indeed enshrined within Nigerian law. That right is sacrosanct and inalienable. But the method matters. A just cause cannot be pursued with unjust means.

“Igbo land has lost thousands of promising youths because of false prophets preaching violence. Yes, leadership failure in Nigeria created fertile ground for vulnerability, but murder, kidnapping and terror can never be the balm for our pain. They are crimes, condemned both before God and before man.

“To those who dance to Simon’s drumbeat online, let me sound a solemn warning: the same fire you fan today may consume you tomorrow. Many before you have already fallen victim to this evil pattern. It is only a matter of time.

“The struggle must be purified. The methodology must be interrogated. The character of those who lead must be weighed. And the blood of the innocent must never again be shed in the name of freedom.

“For years, the South-East region has bled profusely from the devastation and carnage unleashed by Ekpa and his foot soldiers. No family, clan or kindred has been spared. Nearly every household has a story, a brother butchered, a sister shot, a mother abducted, a friend or even a distant relative gruesomely murdered. The rivers of blood that have flowed across our land are not abstract tales; they are personal tragedies etched into the memories of Ndi Igbo,” the statement concluded.

Earlier, the Federal Government of Nigeria had indicated it may seek the repatriation of Simon Ekpa following his six-year prison sentence in Finland for terrorism-related offences.

Ekpa charges include participation in a terrorist organisation, incitement to commit terrorist crimes, aggravated tax fraud, and violations of the Lawyers Act.

The court found that between August 2021 and November 2024, Ekpa sought to promote the independence of the Biafra region through illegal means, using social media to gain influence and playing a key role in founding armed separatist groups designated as terrorist organisations.

The trial spanned 12 sessions, with the verdict delivered unanimously by three judges.

Speaking to The PUNCH on Monday, Information Minister Mohammed Idris said the government would “assess the situation and take decisions in the best interest of the country” regarding Ekpa’s repatriation.

Attorney General Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) also stated that further steps would be taken once the judgment is officially reviewed. Ekpa denied all charges against him.

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Trump administration cuts energy projects, freezes New York funding

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The Trump administration has announced plans to terminate dozens of clean energy projects and freeze billions of dollars for major projects in New York, intensifying a stand-off with Democrats over a US government shutdown.

US media outlets described the moves announced by the energy and transportation departments as part of the administration’s efforts to pressure Democrats in Congress to agree on a deal to end the shutdown.

US President Donald Trump had raced to enact hard-right policies even before the shutdown began after midnight on Tuesday, threatening mass firings and to slash government departments, and blaming Democrats for Congress’ failure to resolve a funding stand-off.

The Department of Energy announced on Thursday “the termination of 321 financial awards supporting 223 projects, resulting in a savings of approximately $7.56 billion for American taxpayers.”

It said in a statement that those projects — overseen by the Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations, the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and other bodies — “did not adequately advance the nation’s energy needs… and would not provide a positive return on investment of taxpayer dollars.”

However, recipients of federal funding have 30 days to appeal against a termination decision, and some have already begun the process, the statement said.

It did not list the projects in question.

In a post on social media platform X, Russell Vought, who heads the powerful Office of Management and Budget, called the slashed projects “Green New Scam funding” that was used to advance “the Left’s climate agenda”.

He listed the states affected by the decision. They include California, New York and 14 others — all blue states where Trump failed to win in the 2024 presidential elections.

California Governor Gavin Newsom said the Trump administration had decided to cancel “up to $1.2 billion” slated for a major hydrogen energy project, threatening tens of thousands of jobs.

“In Trump’s America, energy policy is set by the highest bidder, economics and common sense be damned,” Newsom said in a statement, vowing to keep pursuing a “clean energy strategy… no matter what DC tries to dictate.”

In New York — the home state of top Senate Democrat Chuck Schumer and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries — the Department of Transportation announced on Wednesday it was freezing nearly $18 billion in federal funding for two major infrastructure projects, the Second Avenue subway and Hudson Tunnel.

The move takes aim at diversity, equity and inclusion policies, according to the department’s statement, saying that subsidizing projects with “race- and sex-based contracting requirements… is unconstitutional, counter to civil rights laws, and a waste of taxpayer resources.”

The funds would be frozen until a “quick administrative review is complete,” it said.

“Thanks to the Chuck Schumer and Hakeem Jeffries shutdown, however, USDOT’s review of New York’s unconstitutional practices will take more time,” it added, saying that the department “has been forced to furlough the civil rights staff responsible for conducting this review.”

New York Governor Kathy Hochul, a Democrat, said in a statement that halting funding for “critical infrastructure projects” was “political payback and an attack on New York.”

“Donald Trump has been clear: he is intent on using his reckless government shutdown to hurt the American people,” she said.

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Shettima returns to Abuja after attending UNGA, meetings in Germany

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Vice President Kashim Shettima has returned to Abuja after representing President Bola Tinubu at the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York and high-level engagements in Germany.

The vice president’s aircraft touched down at the presidential wing of the Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport, Abuja, in the early hours of Thursday, where he was received by senior government officials.

During the week-long engagements, Shettima delivered the President’s national statement at the UNGA, calling for comprehensive reforms of the global body.

Vice President Kashim Shettima is being welcomed some government officials at the airport. Photo: State House

He also advocated Africa’s sovereignty over its estimated $700 billion mineral resources and strengthened Nigeria’s partnerships with the United Kingdom, the Gates Foundation, and other international stakeholders.

In New York, Shettima met with UN Secretary-General António Guterres, who commended Nigeria’s bid for a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

The vice president also showcased Nigeria’s $200 billion energy transition opportunities to global investors and assured members of the Nigerian diaspora of continued engagement in the Tinubu administration’s policies and programmes.

He later proceeded to Germany for further strategic meetings before returning to the country.

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Lagos unveils artisan certification to curb building collapse

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The Lagos State Materials Testing Laboratory has launched a new certification and training programme for artisans in the construction industry as part of efforts to stem the spate of building collapses in the state.

The initiative, known as the Certified Structural Integrated Programme, was unveiled at a stakeholders’ forum held in Ese-Offin and Badagry, where block moulders, bricklayers, concrete mixers, steel fabricators and welders converged to pledge support for safer construction practices.

In a statement on Thursday by the Lagos Government, General Manager of LSMTL, Olayinka Abdul, said the programme marked a decisive step in tackling recurring tragedies linked to substandard construction materials.

“Without artisans, there is no construction. But with you, we have the power to ensure every construction is safe, sound, and secure. We need to earnestly curb episodes of collapse in high-water-prone communities, and we do not want such in your community. It ends today,” he said.

According to the statement, the CSIP is a five-year assessment programme aimed at certifying construction materials as fit-for-purpose.

It will also produce an official directory of approved block moulders, concrete mixers and steel fabricators, to whom developers will be directed for supplies.

“This is not just about enforcement; it is about partnership and empowerment. Together, we can forge an unbreakable alliance that makes Lagos a model for building safety and integrity,” Abdul added.

Technical experts at the forum highlighted the scientific backing for the initiative. Director of the Soil and Geotechnics Unit, Engr. Abimbola Adebayo, stressed the need for mandatory soil tests before construction.

Similarly, Kayode Akinfeleye of the Technical Services Department advised builders to ensure architectural drawings are obtained and preserved, describing them as “a core requirement in the Lagos building process.”

Artisan guild leaders welcomed the initiative. Chairman of the National Association of Block Moulders of Nigeria, Alhaji Fabiyi Oyeleke, described frequent collapses as “disheartening” and commended the forum as a step in the right direction.

On his part, Chairman of the Lagos State Bricklayers Association, Mr. Fashina Aro, noted the peculiarities of Lagos’s swampy terrain and urged all stakeholders to ensure materials and soil tests are completed before bricklayers commence work on any site.

Building collapse has been a persistent challenge in Lagos, with many lives lost and substantial property damage over the years.

In recent incidents, emergency responders have had to rescue workers from collapsed structures.

PUNCH Online reports that rescue teams pulled eight workers from the debris of a collapsed building in September.

Reports by the Building Collapse Prevention Guild show Lagos accounts for about 55% of recorded building collapse incidents in Nigeria over the past several decades.

In response, Lagos has taken steps to strengthen bodies like the Lagos State Building Control Agency, enhancing enforcement, monitoring, and regulation of building standards.

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