Authorities in Finland have formally charged Nigerian separatist figure, Simon Ekpa, with offenses related to incitement to terrorism.
The Finnish National Prosecution Authority announced on Friday that it had filed charges against a Finnish citizen accused of publicly encouraging terrorist acts and participating in the activities of a terrorist organization.
Although the prosecution did not reveal the name of the individual, Finnish national broadcaster YLE confirmed that the person charged is Simon Ekpa, a dual Nigerian-Finnish national known for his leadership role in the self-declared Biafra Republic government-in-exile.
The alleged crimes, according to the prosecution authority, were committed in Lahti, Finland, over a three-year period from 2021 to 2024.
Authorities linked the charges to Ekpa’s online campaigns pushing for the independence of Biafra—a region in southeastern Nigeria that was at the center of a brutal civil war in the late 1960s.
Ekpa, who claims to be the head of a faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has denied the allegations. He is currently in custody as legal proceedings continue.
The prosecution also revealed that four other individuals, who had initially been detained in connection with the case for allegedly financing Ekpa’s activities, would no longer face prosecution due to insufficient evidence.
Ekpa has previously held a political role in Finland, serving on a public transport committee in Lahti as a local representative of the National Coalition Party.
His activities have attracted international attention and sparked diplomatic conversations between Nigeria and Finland, though Finland’s Attorney General has previously stated that no formal extradition process has been initiated.
