Simon Ekpa, the self-proclaimed Biafran agitator, has suffered a major setback as Finnish authorities froze his assets over allegations of terrorism-related activities.
According to Yle, a Finnish news outlet, the government has also frozen the assets of companies linked to Ekpa and four of his associates, who are currently in custody.
Ekpa is being held in Kylmäkoski Prison, regarded as one of the toughest correctional facilities in the world.
The prison, located in the Kylmäkoski municipality, was established in January 1993.
Ekpa was remanded on November 21 after the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested him and four others for allegedly spreading terrorist propaganda on social media.
The Päijät-Häme District Court ordered his detention on accusations tied to terrorist offences committed in 2021 in the Lahti municipality.
The separatist leader, who styles himself as the “Prime Minister” of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile, is accused of inciting violence and promoting terrorism in Nigeria’s South-East region through his social media platforms.
His actions allegedly contributed to the Sit-At-Home orders, which have significantly disrupted economic activities in the region. Calls for his arrest had mounted in recent months, with many attributing worsening tensions in the area to his influence.
Finnish authorities have stated that Ekpa’s charges are non-bailable, and his trial is set to begin in May 2025.