The Nigerian Defence Headquarters in Abuja has announced that Simon Ekpa, the self-proclaimed prime minister of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), will be extradited to face charges in the country.
In a brief press statement made available to Chronicle NG following Ekpa’s arrest, the Director of Defence Information, Brig Gen Tukur Gusau, stated that the Chief of Defence Staff, Gen Chris Musa, was pleased with the trial.
Gusau wrote: “CDS is happy with his arrest in Finland, with the hope this will be a step towards his extradition to Nigeria so that he will face justice.”
The Finland district court in Lahti had ordered the remand of Simon Ekpa on probable cause for public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent in Nigeria.
Ekpa was accused of using social media channels to propagate separatist propaganda associated with IPOB, an organisation seeking the secession of southeastern Nigeria.
The court said that the offences occurred on August 23, 2021. Ekpa has previously been investigated by Finnish authorities for possible financial crimes, including monies collected through questionable means.
The head of the investigation, crime commissioner Otto Hiltunen of the Central Criminal Police, said, “The police suspect that the man has promoted his efforts from Finland with means that have led to violence against civilians and authorities as well as other crimes in the region of south-eastern Nigeria. The man has carried out this activity, among other things, on his social media channels.”
However, the remaining four individuals charged with financing terrorism are thought to have committed the act in August 2022, again in Lahti. These people who are of foreign descent were born in the 1960s and 1970s.
According to Helsingin Sanomat (HS), five individuals were arrested during the first week of the inquiry, and police emphasised international collaboration throughout the preliminary phase.
According to prior reports, officials suspect Simon Ekpa of engaging in illegal money collection. In February 2023, Ekpa was arrested in a private flat in Lahti.
He was eventually released the same evening after being questioned. At the time, authorities revealed that they had received numerous reports regarding Ekpa’s social media activities. This sparked an investigation to see if he could be linked to other crimes.
Ekpa is a local politician from Finland who belongs to the National Coalition Party.
He has been a deputy councillor and the party’s representative on the Lahti region’s public transport board.
Meanwhile, from his home in Lahti, he has used social media to advocate for poll boycotts and Biafran’s independence.
