Finnish Prosecutors Charge Simon Ekpa with Inciting Terrorism
A man believed to be Simon Ekpa, a Nigerian separatist, has been charged by Finnish prosecutors for inciting terrorism online.
In a statement released on Friday, Finland’s National Prosecution Authority announced that a Finnish citizen has been indicted for “public incitement to commit crimes with terrorist intent” and for participating in the activities of a terrorist organisation.
The statement did not specifically name Simon Ekpa, who, since the arrest of Biafra separatist leader Nnamdi Kanu by the Nigerian government in June 2021, has proclaimed himself Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile. However, Finnish public broadcaster YLE identified Ekpa as the individual facing terrorism charges.
Ekpa, who hails from Ebonyi State in southeastern Nigeria, was taken into custody in November 2024 and is facing charges for inciting unrest in the region.
He has denied all charges and remains in custody as legal proceedings continue.
The separatist figure is known for his controversial leadership of a faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a group advocating for the secession of Nigeria’s southeast — a region that endured a brutal civil war in the late 1960s. His online campaigns and repeated calls for civil disobedience, particularly the Monday sit-at-home order, have continued to disrupt economic activities in the region.
In addition to his separatist activism, Ekpa has also served as a local political figure in Finland. He previously held a position on the public transport committee in Lahti as a representative of the conservative National Coalition Party.
Finnish authorities had initially detained four others on suspicion of financing Ekpa’s activities. However, the prosecution announced on Friday that all four would not face charges due to insufficient evidence.
