Simon Ekpa, the Prime Minister of the Biafra Government and self-proclaimed leader of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), will remain in Finnish custody until his trial in May 2025.
Finnish legal procedures do not permit bail in cases of this nature, Finnish police have confirmed.
Ekpa, a Nigerian-Finnish dual citizen, was arrested on November 21 in Lahti, Finland, by local authorities. He has been remanded by the district court of Päijät-Häme on allegations of “spreading terrorist propaganda on social media,” an offense allegedly committed in 2021.
Finnish authorities accuse Ekpa of using his online platforms to incite violence and terrorism in southeastern Nigeria, a region grappling with unrest. In response, the Nigerian federal government has requested his extradition to face charges in his home country.
Mikko Laaksonen, senior detective superintendent at Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation, outlined the rationale behind Finland’s legal stance in an email on Saturday. “Finnish criminal procedure/coercive measures do not recognize bail procedure,” he explained. “Our procedure is based on, depending on the case, remand or travel ban as coercive measures for limiting the freedom of movement for persons suspected of offenses to which such measures are applicable.”
This stringent framework underscores Finland’s commitment to ensuring that individuals accused of serious crimes remain under its jurisdiction until the completion of their trials. Consequently, Ekpa will remain in custody as his case progresses.
