The Finnish National Prosecution Authority has formally charged a dual Finnish-Nigerian national, widely reported to be Mr. Simon Ekpa, a controversial figure and self-declared leader of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile, for inciting terrorism and participating in terrorist activities.
The charges are linked to alleged efforts to promote violent secession from Nigeria, with the goal of establishing an independent state of Biafra.
According to a statement released on Friday by Finland’s National Prosecution Authority, the unnamed suspect — widely reported by Finnish broadcaster YLE to be Simon Ekpa — is accused of publicly inciting acts of violence with terrorist intent, as well as engaging in the activities of a terrorist organization. The offences reportedly occurred in the city of Lahti, Finland, between 2021 and 2024.
Ekpa, who holds dual Finnish and Nigerian citizenship, has long been a vocal advocate for the Biafran cause. He rose to prominence as a key figure within the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) movement, a group that has been proscribed as a terrorist organization by the Nigerian government due to its campaign for the independence of Nigeria’s southeastern region — historically known as Biafra.
The southeastern region, predominantly inhabited by the Igbo ethnic group, was the epicenter of the Nigerian Civil War (1967–1970), also known as the Biafran War.
The conflict followed a failed declaration of independence by Biafra and resulted in a humanitarian crisis and the deaths of over a million people, mainly due to starvation.
Prosecutors allege that Ekpa used online platforms and public communications to incite supporters to carry out violent attacks, particularly targeting institutions and individuals perceived as opposing the Biafran cause. His messages, authorities say, aimed to provoke unrest in Nigeria and promote the violent realization of Biafra’s independence.
Ekpa was arrested in November 2024 by Finnish police after a lengthy investigation. At the time, authorities also detained four other individuals suspected of financing his activities, but on Friday, prosecutors announced that charges against those four had been dropped due to a lack of sufficient evidence.
Despite his legal troubles, Ekpa remains a polarizing figure. In Nigeria, he is accused of exacerbating insecurity in the Southeast through frequent threats and alleged influence over sit-at-home orders and violent incidents attributed to pro-Biafra agitators.
In Finland, he had once held a role in local politics, serving on the public transport committee in Lahti for the National Coalition Party, a mainstream conservative party. His previous career as an athlete and lawyer had earned him a degree of public recognition before his involvement in separatist activities began to draw international scrutiny.
Ekpa continues to deny all charges against him. According to the prosecution, he remains in custody pending further legal proceedings.
The case has attracted international attention, as it raises complex questions about freedom of expression, political activism, national security, and the role of diaspora figures in foreign political conflicts. It also underscores the extent to which domestic and international legal systems are being challenged by transnational activism and separatist ideologies.