Finnish prosecutors have charged a man believed to be Nigerian-Finnish separatist leader Simon Ekpa with terrorism-related offences in connection with efforts to establish an independent state of Biafra in southeastern Nigeria.
In a statement released on Friday, Finland’s National Prosecution Authority confirmed that a Finnish citizen had been charged with “public incitement to commit crimes with terrorist intent” and “participation in the activities of a terrorist group.”
While the statement did not name the individual, Finnish public broadcaster YLE identified the suspect as Simon Ekpa, a dual Finnish-Nigerian national who describes himself as the Prime Minister of the self-declared Biafra Republic Government in Exile.
According to prosecutors, the offences were allegedly committed between 2021 and 2024 in the city of Lahti. The accused is currently in custody and denies all charges.
“The charges relate to public messages encouraging violent actions aimed at achieving the independence of Biafra,” the statement said.
Ekpa, a former athlete and lawyer, has been a prominent and controversial figure in the Biafran secessionist movement, often accused of inciting unrest and violence in Nigeria’s southeast—a region that was at the heart of the 1967–70 Biafran civil war.
Beyond his involvement in Biafran activism, Ekpa has also participated in Finnish politics. He previously served on Lahti’s public transport committee under the conservative National Coalition Party.
He was initially arrested in November 2024 as part of a broader investigation by Finnish police, who also detained four other individuals suspected of financing his activities. However, on Friday, prosecutors announced that charges against the four others had been dropped due to lack of sufficient evidence.
Ekpa remains in custody as Finnish courts prepare to hear the terrorism incitement case against him.
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