Simon Ekpa, a controversial figure who identifies as the Prime Minister of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and leader of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE), has taken legal action against his former associate, Ngozi Orabueze, in a United States court.
The lawsuit, filed at the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, accuses Orabueze of illegally seizing control of a members’ database and forming a rival faction of the BRGIE. The court filing was made by U.S.-based attorney Arman Dabiri on behalf of Ekpa and BRGIE.
Ekpa is seeking financial compensation, including punitive damages, attorney’s fees, legal costs, and other related expenses. The suit alleges that Orabueze, with support from several others, unlawfully established a parallel government structure that undermines BRGIE’s authority and misuses its internal resources.
Co-defendants in the case include Ada Ezeh, Diana Emeh, Solomon Nkwocha, Ugbonna Christian Olejemah, Uchenna Objijiaku, and Ijeoma Eze, among others. The lawsuit paints a picture of a serious internal conflict within the Biafra movement in exile, centered on leadership legitimacy and control of vital data and communication assets.
According to the complaint, the dispute began in December 2024, when Orabueze allegedly took steps to oust Ekpa by forming a new leadership group and assuming control of sensitive member information. The filing accuses her and the other defendants of fraud and misrepresentation.
Despite initiating this legal battle in the U.S., Ekpa himself remains in legal trouble in Europe. He is currently in pre-trial detention in Finland, where he is being prosecuted on charges of public incitement to commit crimes with terrorist intent.
His arrest in Finland followed multiple allegations linking him to unrest and violence in southeastern Nigeria. Authorities in Finland have yet to determine the final outcome of his case, but his legal troubles there continue to overshadow his role in the Biafra separatist movement.
The legal dispute in Washington is expected to draw significant attention due to the high-profile nature of the individuals involved and the international scope of the Biafra movement. Observers believe the outcome could either strengthen or further divide the BRGIE.
Ngozi Orabueze has not yet issued a public response to the allegations. It remains to be seen how the U.S. court will handle the cross-border political dimensions of the case, which touches on both activism and alleged internal sabotage.
As tensions continue to grow within IPOB and BRGIE circles, this lawsuit marks another chapter in the ongoing crisis surrounding the leadership and direction of the Biafra independence movement in exile.
