Simon Ekpa to Remain in Detention During Holiday Season

Simon Ekpa, who claims to be a Biafran leader, is expected to stay in custody over the Christmas and New Year period in Finland, as confirmed by local authorities.

Mikko Laaksonen, a Senior Detective Superintendent at Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation, clarified that the country’s legal framework does not allow for bail options.

In response to inquiries sent via email by PUNCH, Laaksonen stated, “Finnish criminal procedure/coercive measures do not provide for bail… Our approach relies on remand or travel bans as necessary restrictions on individuals suspected of committing crimes where applicable.”

A Finnish court has set May 2025 as the timeline for prosecutors to formally charge Simon Ekpa.

It’s noteworthy that Ekpa, who declares himself the “Prime Minister” of the Biafra Republic Government-in-Exile, was detained two weeks ago along with four others, facing accusations linked to terrorism, including promoting violence and financing terror activities.

Authorities in Finland assert that Ekpa leveraged social media to foment unrest in Nigeria’s Southeast, specifically against civilians and government officials.

Local reports from Yle indicate that he is being held on charges of inciting public crime with terrorist motives.

Furthermore, the Central Criminal Police of Finland indicated that the other detainees are accused of contributing funds to terrorist actions, heightening the investigation’s focus on Ekpa’s alleged activities.

Detective Laaksonen confirmed that investigations are ongoing but chose not to divulge additional details.

Regarding the court proceedings for Ekpa, Laaksonen mentioned, “Due to the ongoing investigation, we cannot provide more information. The district court has set May 2025 for the prosecution to present any potential charges.”

He noted that either Ekpa or Finnish officials could request a review of the case after a period of two weeks.

“In standard remand circumstances, a review hearing is possible no sooner than two weeks following the last hearing, provided the parties involved make such a request,” he elaborated.

However, specifics regarding any international collaboration remain undisclosed.

“International cooperation is integral to the investigation due to its complexity, but we cannot comment further at this time,” stated the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).

As a Finnish citizen of Nigerian origin, Ekpa gained notoriety for advocating a boycott of Nigeria’s 2023 general elections, which led to violent backlash and assaults on citizens.

Previously detained in February 2023 for instigating violence and calling for sit-at-home directives in Nigeria’s Southeast, Ekpa’s actions have sparked global petitions beseeching Finnish and Nigerian authorities, alongside the European Union, to take action.

In light of Ekpa’s conduct, Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Finnish Ambassador Leena Pylvanainen, seeking cooperation from Finland.

The District Court of Päijät-Häme in Finland has placed Ekpa under detention on suspicions of inciting public crimes with terrorist intent, while his companions face allegations of funding terrorism.