Finnish authorities have charged Simon Ekpa, a Finnish-Nigerian dual citizen and leader of a faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), with terrorism and for allegedly inciting violence in southeastern Nigeria through social media.
He was arrested in November 2024 and is currently being held in Kylmäkoski Prison.
The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) accused him of spreading terrorists propaganda online, which allegedly led to violent incidents in Nigeria’s South-East region.
The Nigerian government has expressed its intent to seek Ekpa’s extradition to face charges related to terrorism and promoting violence, particularly his role in enforcing unlawful sit-at-home orders in the South-East.
The Nigerian Army welcomed his arrest, viewing it as a significant step in combating terrorism.
Ekpa has appointed a new lawyer, Kaarle Gummerus, who is reviewing the pre-trial case file.