Simon Ekpa, a dual citizen of Nigeria and Finland who identifies as the Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile, has been charged by Finnish authorities with inciting terrorism.
In a statement released on Friday, Finland’s National Prosecution Authority accused Ekpa of “public incitement to commit crimes with terrorist intent and participation in the activities of a terrorist group,” according to AFP.
The alleged offences were said to have occurred in Lahti, a city in southern Finland, between 2021 and 2024.
Although the prosecution did not disclose the suspect’s name, Finnish public broadcaster YLE identified the individual as Ekpa. He has gained global attention for leading a separatist campaign advocating for Biafra’s independence from Nigeria.
Ekpa was taken into custody by Finnish police in November 2024. Authorities confirmed that he remains detained and has denied all allegations.
The charges focus on Ekpa’s online content, which prosecutors claim encouraged violent actions in Nigeria under the banner of the pro-Biafra movement.
He is reportedly a key figure in a faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which was designated a terrorist group in 2017 by then-President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration. IPOB has been demanding the secession of Nigeria’s southeast, a region scarred by a devastating civil war from 1967 to 1970 that left over a million people dead.
Beyond his involvement with the Biafra movement, Ekpa has also participated in Finnish local politics. He previously served with the conservative National Coalition Party in Lahti and was a member of the municipal public transport committee.
Authorities in Finland have also explored whether Ekpa’s operations were supported financially. After his arrest, police detained four individuals suspected of funding his activities. However, prosecutors have now dropped those cases due to lack of sufficient evidence.
Ekpa has been frequently criticized for spreading disinformation.
The AFP said it has conducted multiple fact-checks debunking false claims made by Ekpa in recent years, many of which have circulated widely among his followers and the broader pro-Biafra diaspora.”
His prosecution has attracted significant medi
