Simon Ekpa, a dual nationality of Nigeria and Finland who parades himself as the Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile, has been charged by Finnish authorities with inciting terrorism.
In a statement released on Friday, the Finland’s National Prosecution Authority accused Ekpa of “public incitement to commit crimes with terrorist intent and participation in the activities of a terrorist group,” according to AFP.
The alleged offences were said to have occurred in Lahti, a city in southern Finland, between 2021 and 2024.
Even though, the prosecution did not disclose the suspect’s name, Finnish public broadcaster YLE identified the individual as Ekpa.
He has gained world attention for leading a separatist campaign advocating for Biafra’s independence from Nigeria.
Ekpa was taken into custody by Finnish police in November 2024. Authorities confirmed that he remains detained and has denied all allegations.
The charges focus on Ekpa’s online content, which prosecutors claim encouraged violent actions in Nigeria under the banner of the pro-Biafra movement.
He is reportedly a key figure in a faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which has been designated a terrorist group in 2017 by the immediate past President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.
IPOB has been demanding the secession of Nigeria’s southeast, a region perturbed by a devastating civil war from 1967 to 1970 that left over a million people dead.
Apart from his involvement with the Biafra movement, Ekpa has also participated in Finnish local politics.
He previously served with the conservative National Coalition Party in Lahti and was a member of the municipal public transport committee.
Authorities in Finland have also investigated whether Ekpa’s operations were supported financially.
After his arrest, police detained four individuals suspected of funding his activities. However, prosecutors have now dropped those cases owing to lack of sufficient evidence.
Ekpa has been frequently criticized for spreading disinformation.
The AFP said it has conducted multiple fact-checks debunking false claims made by Ekpa in recent years, many of which have circulated widely among his followers and the broader pro-Biafra diaspora.”
His prosecution has attracted significant media attention in both Finland and Nigeria.