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The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has once again distanced itself from Simon Ekpa, describing recent attempts by international media to link him to the group and its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, as “deliberate disinformation.”

In a statement on Sunday signed by its spokesperson, Comrade Emma Powerful, IPOB condemned a report by the Associated Press (AP), which it said falsely tied the group to the conviction of Ekpa in Finland.

“The attention of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has been drawn to…publication from the Associated Press (AP)—deliberately seeking to manipulate global perception by falsely linking IPOB and our leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, to the recent conviction of Simon Ekpa in Finland,” the statement read.

Powerful stressed that Ekpa is not a member or leader of IPOB, a position he said has been established both in Nigerian courts and in foreign jurisdictions.

“Simon Ekpa is not, and has never been, a member or leader of IPOB. This fact is not speculative…it is on court record,” he said.

According to IPOB, the attempt to associate the group with Ekpa’s activities is aimed at influencing the October 10 trial of Kanu before Justice James Omotosho in Abuja.

“Any attempt to force a link between IPOB and his personal actions in order to influence Hon. Justice James Omotosho come 10th of October, is wicked, dishonest, and mischievous,” Powerful added.

The group maintained that it is a lawful and global self-determination movement, registered in over 60 countries and active in more than 100 territories worldwide.

It rejected Nigeria’s designation of IPOB as a terrorist organisation, describing it as a desperate attempt to stigmatise its struggle.

“No other nation on earth regards IPOB as a terrorist organisation except…Nigeria, out of the entire comity of nations, persists in its futile attempt to stigmatise Biafra’s legitimate self-determination struggle,” the statement said.

Regarding Ekpari, IPOB insisted that Finnish court records clearly show that his conviction was personal to him and his own organisation, the “‘Autopilot Government in Exile’.”

“The conviction of Simon Ekpa is personal to him and does not, in any way, implicate IPOB because he formed his own organisation called Autopilot Government In Exile. Yet, …media outlets like AP deliberately twist facts to suit their sponsors’ narrative,” Powerful stated.

He also accused some international media and technology platforms of aiding Nigeria’s propaganda campaign against the group.

Powerful pointed to what he called “glaring hypocrisy,” citing a ruling in Canada that allegedly described Nigeria’s political parties, APC and PDP, as terrorist organisations, a judgment he said was downplayed by the media.

“A Canadian court has already ruled that Nigeria’s ruling and opposition parties (APC and PDP) are terror organisations. Yet the Associated Press and their collaborators did not trumpet that ruling globally.

“But when it comes to IPOB—clean, peaceful, and law-abiding—they spare no effort in attempting to smear our name by association,” the statement said.

The Nigerian government reacted to the judgement in Canada by calling for its annulment warning it’s an interference in the internal affairs of the country.

IPOB however likened the current wave of negative reporting to the alleged manipulation of Wikipedia in June 2021, which IPOB claims paved the way for Kanu’s abduction in Kenya.

He called on credible journalists and media organisations around the world to avoid being used as tools to propagate falsehood against IPOB.

“We call on responsible journalists and media houses worldwide to resist being used as instruments of imperial disinformation. IPOB will continue to expose these merchants of lies and defend our movement with truth and evidence,” Powerful stated.