Finnish authorities have formally charged a man with inciting terrorism online, in a case widely reported to involve Nigerian separatist leader, Simon Ekpa.
![](https://thenigerialawyer.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/2026-IDRI-Masterclass.png")
In a statement released on Friday, Finland’s National Prosecution Authority said it had charged “a Finnish individual in a case involving suspected public incitement to commit crimes with terrorist intent and participation in the activities of a terrorist group.”
Though the prosecution authority did not publicly name the suspect, Finnish public broadcaster YLE identified him as Simon Ekpa, a controversial figure who claims leadership of the self-declared Biafra Republic government-in-exile.
The alleged offenses were said to have been committed in the city of Lahti between 2021 and 2024, and are linked to Ekpa’s sustained efforts to promote the secession of Nigeria’s southeast region — known historically as Biafra — from the Nigerian state.
Ekpa, a dual citizen of Finland and Nigeria, was detained in November 2024 and has remained in custody since. According to the prosecutors, he denies all charges.
Ekpa is associated with a faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a movement seeking independence for the southeastern region of Nigeria, which was the epicenter of a brutal civil war from 1967 to 1970. The IPOB has been proscribed as a terrorist organization by the Nigerian government, although its international status remains disputed.
In addition to his separatist activities, Ekpa has served in local politics in Finland, including as a public transport committee member for the conservative National Coalition Party in Lahti, north of Helsinki.
During Ekpa’s arrest in 2024, Finnish authorities also detained four others on suspicion of financing his activities. However, the prosecution authority has since dropped charges against those individuals, citing insufficient evidence.
Ekpa has gained notoriety for spreading misinformation online and has been the subject of several fact-check investigations by AFP over false claims related to Biafran independence.
[A MUST HAVE] Evidence Act Demystified With Recent And Contemporary Cases And Materials
Available now for NGN 40,000 at ASC Publications, 10, Boyle Street, Onikan, Lagos. Beside High Court, TBS. Email publications@ayindesanni.com or WhatsApp +2347056667384. Purchase Link: https://paystack.com/buy/evidence-act-complete-annotation
______________________________________________________________________ “Enhance Legal Practice With Authoritative Reports” — Alexander Payne Offers Comprehensive Law Reports, Spanning Over A Century Of Nigerian Jurisprudence
Interested buyers are encouraged to place their orders and enquiries via:
0704 444 4777, 0704 444 4999, 0818 199 9888
Website: www.alexandernigeria.com
