The Finnish government has officially filed terrorism charges against Simon Ekpa, a prominent and controversial Biafra separatist leader.
According to Yle, a leading Finnish media outlet, Finland’s Deputy Prosecutor General has charged Ekpa with public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent and participation in a terrorist group. The charges were filed on Friday morning, and the case will be heard at the Päijät-Häme District Court in Lahti.
The prosecutor stated that the court would determine whether Ekpa’s online activities—conducted from within Finland—meet the legal threshold for terrorism-related offences. He described the case as “unprecedented” and confirmed that documents submitted by the Nigerian government were part of the investigative process.
No date has been set for the court hearing.
Ekpa, who claims to be a leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was arrested in November 2024 by Finnish authorities. He was later remanded in custody by the same district court for allegedly spreading terrorist propaganda via social media. The alleged offence reportedly occurred in 2021, in the municipality of Lahti.
Ekpa is accused of using his social media platforms to incite violence and promote terror-related activities in southeastern Nigeria, actions that Finnish authorities now say may constitute terrorist crimes under Finnish law.
Despite mounting concerns from Nigerian authorities, Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Lateef Fagbemi, recently disclosed that the Nigerian government has not yet initiated extradition proceedings against Ekpa.
The case marks a significant development in international cooperation on cyberterrorism and political extremism.
