Simon Ekpa Arrested, Denies Being IPOB Leader + Atiku Says Tinubu’s Loans Are Bone-Crushing – Trending With Ojy Okpe

The arrest of self-proclaimed Prime minister of the Biafra Republic, Simon Ekpa who was arrested on Thursday, by authorities in Finland has elicited reactions.

Ekpa was arrested with four others on suspicion of inciting crimes with terrorist intent through separatist propaganda on social media.

The Finnish authorities say that Ekpa used his platform to advocate for violence in southeastern Nigeria with his online rhetoric, fueling attacks on civilians and government forces; and also the financing of terrorist activities, with investigations tracing back to August 2021.

The Nigerian military has called for the extradition of Simon Ekpa, his arrest was hailed by its Director of Defence Media Operations, Major General Edward Buba who welcomed the international cooperation in the fight against terrorism, saying that the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), Gen. Christopher Musa, had long called for Ekpa’s arrest due to his role in fuelling terrorism in the South-east.

Defence Headquarters on Thursday dismissed as laughable allegations made by the Chief Executive Officer of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited; Tompolo, who accused the Nigerian Navy of aiding oil theft.

Speaking on Monday night while receiving the national leadership of the Nigerian Bar Association in Delta State.

Tompolo cited an instance when the Navy shot at officials of his security firm after intercepting a vessel laden with crude oil in Rivers State.

Meanwhile, the Navy has denied allegations that its men shot at officials of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited in Rivers State.

In a telephone chat, the Director, of Naval Information Abuja, Commodore Adams Aliu told Arise News Correspondent Ovieteme George that the statement by the Chairman of Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited was false.

Nigerian Senate on Thursday approved President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s 1.77 trillion Naira loan request, to help finance the country’s 9.7 trillion Naira budget deficit for 2024.

This loan is said to be part of a fresh external borrowing plan, as outlined in the 2024 Appropriation Act.

The approval has since sparked mixed reactions, with some expressing concerns about Nigeria’s growing debt including, Senator representing Borno South, Ali Ndume who on Thursday, urged his colleagues in the Senate to advise President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on the dangers of borrowing with securing the country.

PDP chieftain, Bode George, has advised former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, not to contest again for President in 2027.

While speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, George said Atiku would be 81 by 2027 and sees no need for him to run for President at such an age.

Following the endorsement of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s son Seyi Tinubu by the coalition of Nigerian youth leaders as Governor of Lagos State, the Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa, on Thursday, said that he does not lack the experience to contest the governorship race in the state.

Obasa made the remarks shortly after Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu presented the state’s 2025 budget size of N3 trillion naira, Eliciting reactions.

In New York, a banana duct-taped to a wall at Sotheby’s sold for a whopping $6.2 million at auction on Wednesday, generated reactions on social media.

The avant-garde artwork by Italian artist, Maurizio Cattelan, was purchased by Justin Sun, a Chinese cryptocurrency entrepreneur.

The sale had attracted seven bidders and surpassed its guide price of $1 million to $1.5 million.

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