Finnish prosecutors formally indict Simon Ekpa over Biafra-related activity
On Friday, May 16, Finnish prosecutors announced that separatist leader Simon Ekpa has been officially charged with inciting terrorism online, marking a dramatic escalation in a case with geopolitical implications.
In a statement released by Finland’s National Prosecution Authority (NPA), officials confirmed that a Finnish national had been charged “in a case involving suspected public incitement to commit crimes with terrorist intent and participation in the activities of a terrorist group.” The statement clarified that the alleged offenses occurred in Lahti between 2021 and 2024 and are linked to the accused’s efforts to promote the independence of Nigeria’s Biafra region.
Although the NPA did not initially disclose the identity of the suspect, Finnish public broadcaster YLE confirmed the accused as Simon Ekpa, a controversial figure who claims leadership of the Biafra Republic’s government in exile.
Ekpa, a dual Finnish-Nigerian citizen, was detained in November and has remained in custody since. He has denied all charges, according to Finnish authorities.
A former local politician, Ekpa has also served as a representative of Finland’s conservative National Coalition Party on the Lahti public transport committee, adding a layer of political complexity to the proceedings.
Meanwhile, prosecutors have opted to drop charges against four other individuals initially connected to the case, citing insufficient evidence.
The trial is expected to cast a global spotlight on the intersection of diaspora activism, national security, and online radicalization.
