Simon Ekpa sues former ally Ngozie Orabueze over Biafra govt faction, alleged database hijack

The self-proclaimed Prime Minister of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Simon Ekpa, has launched a legal battle against his former ally, Ngozie Orabueze, over the creation of a rival faction of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE) and the alleged hijacking of its members’ database.

According to court documents obtained by Peoples Gazette, the lawsuit was filed on May 29, 2025, at the United States District Court for the District of Columbia, Washington D.C. The suit was submitted by U.S.-based attorney Arman Dabiri on behalf of Ekpa.

Ngozie Orabueze, named as the first defendant, is accused of splintering the exiled Biafra movement and establishing a parallel government entity. Alongside her, several others have been listed as co-defendants, including Ada Ezeh, Ugbonna Christian Olejemah, Uchenna Objijiaku, Diana Emeh Solomon Nkwocha, and Ijeoma Eze.

The lawsuit also implicates other individuals such as Ulo Ogbonna, Nariel Offomah, Ebenezer Anene, Godwill Iroh, Dorothy Anthony, Rose Ikejorah-Agwu, Pvalentine Ekweghariri, and Oluchi Ulumma Mbachi. Additionally, the case names the Biafra Republic Government in Exile de facto corporation as a defendant.

In his filings, Mr Dabiri claimed to be suing on behalf of BRGIE and the group’s embattled leader, Mr Ekpa, who is currently facing trial on terrorism charges in Finland.

He accused Ms Orabueze of launching a hostile takeover of BRGIE, setting up a parallel government, stealing the databases and assets of IPOB members, and committing fraud.

Court documents showed that the matter began in December 2024 when Ms Orabueze began the alleged takeover of BRGIE after she declared herself as the group’s ‘acting deputy prime minister’ and ‘head of state’ before summarily moving the organisation’s properties, including declaration documents and database of members from Finland to the United States, where she is based.

Mr Dabiri noted that the defendant’s power grab continued when she unilaterally announced the mass firing of BRGIE members and the cancellation of the organisation’s active contracts with various entities, including those of the Law Offices of Arman Dabiri & Associates, the firm serving as the legal representative for the group in the United States.

Subsequently, Ms Orabueze left BRGIE to create a parallel organisation to compete against the former faction, registering the ‘United States of Biafra-Biafra Republic Government in Exile-Defacto Corp’ as an organisation in the State of Georgia on January 5, 2025, the court filing stated.

Despite Ms Orabueze’s departure from BRGIE, court documents noted that the defendant attempted to continue using the services of the organisation, including those provided by lobbying firm Moran Global Strategies and the Law Offices of Arman Dabiri & Associates, P.L.L.C.

She also allegedly continued to use the intellectual properties of BRGIE, including trademarks, logos, building, and identities, for personal gain, prompting Mr Dabiri to file a lawsuit against her at the federal court in Washington.

Meanwhile, the plaintiff claimed that Ms Orabueze’s actions caused BRGIE an estimated $500,000 in financial and property losses, asking the court to award $1.7 million in damages against the defendant and an additional amount for prejudgment interest on the commercial losses suffered by the plaintiff.

The plaintiff is also asking the court to award reasonable financial penalties in punitive damages, attorney’s fees and cost and expenses of the action against the defendant.

Mr Ekpa remains in pre-trial detention for “public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent“. Hearing into his case began in May and will continue this month, according to the Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland.

Meanwhile, the Nigerian government has been urged to seek the extradition of Mr Ekpa, considered an ally of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu.