Simon Ekpa, the self-proclaimed prime minister of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has initiated legal proceedings against his former ally, Ngozi Orabueze, at the United States District Court for the District of Columbia in Washington.

According to court documents, Ekpa is seeking financial penalties in punitive damages, attorney's fees, costs, and expenses against Orabueze and several co-defendants.

The lawsuit, as reported by Peoples Gazette, stems from allegations regarding the creation of a parallel faction of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE) and the alleged hijacking of IPOB members' database.

US-based lawyer Arman Dabiri filed the lawsuit on behalf of BRGIE and Ekpa, naming Orabueze as the first defendant. Other co-defendants include Ada Ezeh, Diana Emeh, Solomon Nkwocha, Ugbonna Christian Olejemah, Uchenna Objijiaku, and Ijeoma Eze.

Dabiri's filing accuses Orabueze of orchestrating a hostile takeover of BRGIE, establishing a parallel government, misappropriating IPOB members' databases and assets, and committing fraud. Court records indicate that the dispute began in December 2024.

The legal action comes while Ekpa remains in pre-trial detention in Finland, where he faces charges of "public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent." His terrorism trial has reportedly commenced in Finland.

This case highlights ongoing leadership disputes within the pro-Biafra movement, particularly following the controversial detention of IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu in Nigeria.