The Finnish National Prosecution Authority has formally charged Simon Ekpa, a prominent separatist figure, with public incitement to commit terrorism and participation in a terrorist group, authorities confirmed on Friday.
In a statement, the Prosecution Authority said the alleged offences occurred in the Finnish city of Lahti between 2021 and 2024, and were linked to Ekpa’s campaign for the independence of Nigeria’s Biafra region.
Although the official statement did not name the accused, Finnish public broadcaster YLE identified the individual as Simon Ekpa, a dual Finnish-Nigerian national and self-proclaimed leader of the “Biafra Republic Government in Exile”.
Ekpa was detained in November and remains in custody. According to the authorities, he has denied all charges.
The prosecution also disclosed that charges against four other individuals initially involved in the case had been dropped due to insufficient evidence.
Notably, Ekpa has also served as a local representative of Finland’s conservative National Coalition Party, sitting on a public transport committee in Lahti, a city north of Helsinki.
The case is expected to draw significant attention both in Finland and Nigeria, where Ekpa’s activities have sparked widespread controversy.
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