Authorized consultants have mentioned people donating funds to Simon Ekpa will be charged with terrorism.
Regardless of the detention of the separatist chief by the Finnish police, some members of the outlawed Indigenous Individuals of Biafra have continued to influence folks to donate cash.
In a video posted on X with the caption “Biafra Freedom. Vote, Donate, Assist BRGIE” by the purported Minister of Data of the outlawed group @Akparawasunny on Saturday, a girl who recognized herself as Ada Biafra, in a reside video seen by our correspondent, mentioned Ekpa can be again subsequent week.
“A flier is there our supporters (a flier that accommodates the details about the donation). We’re shopping for groundnuts (bullets) for the gallant males, as a result of no groundnut that goes out comes again in. We have to refill,” she defined.
An X person, @kingchuks01, posted, “Whether or not they like or not we should speak about Biafra and we should obtain Biafra.”
Opposing the publish, one other X person, @Chrismo80164240, mentioned, “You shouldn’t be speaking about donation if actually you guys are critical about December 2nd declaration. I solely see it as rip-off. By the way in which let me ask you, donate to do what with the cash?”
One other X person, @realdonpri, posted, “Let him keep there so he can really feel the identical ache these poor folks in SE has been feeling each Monday. It’s simple to remain on the consolation of yout residence and perception violence. I’ve zero sympathy for him. He’s very boastful & can neva b the face of Biafra.”
In a separate publish, one other person, @nwaEleberi, posted, “@simon_ekpa is ordained fraudster & a recognized terrorist! All his silly followers should demand accountability from him! He has been busy ingesting costly champagne & residing massive!”
Chatting with Sunday PUNCH, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Kunle Edun, mentioned people financing terrorism was responsible.
He mentioned, “Sections 2, 21 and 22 of the Act are clear that terrorism and financing of terrorism are prohibited in Nigeria. Any individual that financially helps or makes his assets, providers or amenities out there to individuals knowingly engaged in terrorist actions is equally liable and offence beneath the Terrorism Act can entice as much as the utmost life imprisonment but when dying happens whereas committing the act, dying penalty will apply. An try and do any of the foregoing is equally an offence beneath the Act. It’s important that the intent of the suspects have to be proved to commit or assist acts of terrorism.
“It’s on this clever, that the alleged crowdfunding organised by Simon Ekpa whereby donors have been mentioned to made funds out there to him, turns into very regarding. Whether it is established both by direct or circumstantial proof that the donors have been conscious or must have been conscious of the aim of the crowdfunding and the actions of Simon Ekpa they might be charged for financing terrorism. Subsequently, an intensive investigation shall be required to assemble these proof, because the burden is on the Prosecution to show the cost.”
A authorized practitioner, Ayo Ademiluyi, mentioned these donating to Ekpa’s trigger have been merely terrorists as a result of the organisation had been proscribed.
“By advantage of the declaration of IPOB and every other secessionist teams as terrorist organisations, any funding to it constitutes proof of that crime. So, on this case, crowdfunding is an adjunct to the actual fact. It’s because the organisation has been labelled as a terrorist organisation,” he mentioned.
One other authorized practitioner, Eze Onyekpere, acknowledged that these funding Ekpa have been supporting terrorism.
He mentioned, “This is rather like anyone funding Boko Haram or the terrorists within the northwest.”
Additionally talking, the Government Director of Rule of Regulation and Accountability Advocacy Centre, Okechukwu Nwanguma, inspired the federal authorities to provoke constructive dialogues with neighborhood and youth leaders to deliver peace to Southeast.