23/04/2025
As of April 2025, Simon Ekpa, a Finnish-Nigerian Biafran separatist leader and self-proclaimed "Prime Minister" of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE), remains in custody in Finland. He was arrested in November 2024 by the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) on suspicion of terrorist activities, specifically for allegedly inciting violence and spreading separatist propaganda on social media targeting southeastern Nigeria. The Päijät-Häme District Court remanded him on charges of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent, with the alleged offenses occurring between August 2021 and November 2024. His trial is scheduled for May 2025, when prosecutors must file formal charges.Ekpa’s assets, along with those of his associates and related companies, have been frozen by Finnish authorities. Four others were arrested alongside him, though two have been released. He is detained in Kylmäkoski prison, and his lawyer, Ilkka Kopra, has stated that Ekpa denies the allegations. The NBI has cited concerns that releasing him could hinder the investigation or allow him to continue his activities.The Nigerian government has designated Ekpa and several BRGIE/IPOB members as terrorism financiers and is pushing for his extradition, though this faces legal challenges due to his Finnish citizenship and the lack of an extradition treaty between Nigeria and Finland. Uche Mefor, a former IPOB figure, suggested extradition is unlikely, and any trial or sentence would likely occur in Finland.In Nigeria, Ekpa’s arrest has been welcomed by figures like President Bola Tinubu, Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, and the Enugu State government, who accuse him of fueling violence in the southeast. IPOB has distanced itself from Ekpa, calling him a “destructive agent” with no affiliation to their movement. Protests by his supporters occurred in Lahti, Finland, in December 2024, and his deputy, Ngozi Orabueze, vowed to continue his sit-at-home campaigns.Posts on X have speculated about his extradition and personal life, including unverified claims about divorce proceedings, but these lack confirmation from reliable sources. Ekpa’s X account () has been inactive since his arrest.The situation remains fluid, with ongoing legal proceedings in Finland and diplomatic efforts by Nigeria. For updates, following credible news outlets or Ekpa’s legal developments via Finnish court announcements would be advisable.
