Simon Ekpa, the Prime Minister of the Biafra Government in Exile, who was arrested in Finland on terrorism-related charges, will remain in detention over the Christmas and New Year period. Finnish legal procedures do not allow for bail, leaving Ekpa’s fate uncertain as he faces serious charges that could lead to a lengthy imprisonment.
Ekpa, alongside four others, was apprehended on suspicion of inciting violence and financing terrorism in connection with his promotion of Biafran separatism.
Finnish authorities revealed that Ekpa, self-declared Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government-in-Exile, faces charges of public incitement to commit terrorism. His trial is scheduled for May 2025. According to Finnish National Bureau of Investigation’s Mikko Laaksonen, Finland’s legal system does not recognize bail, only remand or travel bans for those suspected of serious offenses.
While Ekpa remains in custody, his supporters in Finland declared the formation of the United States of Biafra at a recent conference in Lahti. The event, which attracted a large number of Biafran activists, featured speeches and symbolic acts marking the re-declaration of an independent Biafra, despite Ekpa’s arrest. The group, led by Dr. Ngozi Orabueze, announced plans for a new state structure, with its own currency and time zone, further asserting the push for Biafran independence.
However, both the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) distanced themselves from the event. IPOB dismissed the declaration, asserting that it did not authorize the conference, while MASSOB expressed conditional support, clarifying that Biafra is still under Nigerian governance.
Calls for Ekpa’s extradition to Nigeria have intensified, though Finnish officials clarified that the two countries do not have an extradition agreement. Legal experts debated the possibility of extradition based on international conventions, even though no bilateral agreement exists between Finland and Nigeria.
As tensions rise over the declaration of Biafran independence, the unfolding legal battle and ongoing separatist movements continue to shape the future of the Biafran cause.
