Finnish authorities have frozen the assets of Simon Ekpa, a self-proclaimed Biafran activist, who is currently detained on allegations of terrorism-related activities.
Ekpa, along with four alleged accomplices, has been held in remand for several weeks, with the assets of companies linked to them also seized.
According to Finnish newspaper Yle, Ekpa is being held at the Kylmäkoski vankila (Kylmäkoski Prison), a maximum-security facility in Vanhamaantie, Akaa, Finland. The prison, built in 1993, is known for housing some of the country’s most dangerous offenders and was featured in the Netflix documentary series Inside the World’s Toughest Prisons in 2023.
Mikko Laaksonen, Senior Detective Superintendent at Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation, confirmed that Ekpa could remain in detention over the Christmas and New Year holidays, as the Finnish legal system does not allow bail.
The Head of International Communications at Yle, Mika Ojamies, also verified that Ekpa is currently detained at the Kylmäkoski facility.
Ekpa, who refers to himself as the “Prime Minister” of the Biafra Republic Government-in-Exile, was arrested alongside four others about a month ago. He faces charges of public incitement to commit crimes with terrorist intent, including allegations of inciting violence and financing terrorism in Nigeria’s South-East region through social media.
Kylmäkoski Prison houses 113 inmates, a mix of convicted criminals and those awaiting trial. It accommodates individuals accused or convicted of serious crimes, including violent offenses and sex crimes. The facility has faced challenges such as inmates smuggling in contraband, including drugs like subutex, cocaine, and amphetamines, as well as cell phones.
In the Netflix series, journalist Raphael Rowe highlighted the prison’s harsh conditions and interviewed several inmates, including notorious figures like Toni and Olli, who had histories of extreme violence. A prison officer in the documentary noted the ongoing struggles with managing drug smuggling and the behavior of violent offenders.
The Finnish authorities’ actions have drawn significant attention, as Ekpa’s alleged activities continue to spark controversy both in Finland and Nigeria.