Factional leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Simon Njoku Ekpa, yesterday appeared before a Finnish court, charged with inciting terrorism.
Although Finland’s National Prosecution Authority did not mention Ekpa by name, Finnish public broadcaster YLE identified him so.
The prosecutors merely said they 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.”
The crimes were allegedly committed in the city of Lahti between 2021 and 2024 and were related to the suspect’s efforts to carve a republic of Biafra from Nigeria.
He denied the charges, according to the prosecutors.
He remains in custody.
Ekpa , who also holds Finnish citizenship, branded himself prime minister of Biafra government in exile.
He was arrested with four others in November 2024.
However, the authorities dropped charges against the four owing to lack of evidence.
Soon after Ekpa’s arrest last year, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Finnish District Court of Päijät-Häme ruled to detain him on probable cause for publicly inciting crimes with terrorist intent.
The ministry quoted the Finnish authorities as accusing Ekpa of using “social media platforms to spread separatist propaganda, incite violence and encourage illegal actions, which had caused significant disruptions in the South-East of Nigeria.”
It added: “Finnish investigators had also linked him to incidents of violence in Nigeria, which were believed to have been fueled by his online activities.
“The arrest of Mr. Simon Njoku Ekpa follows sustained diplomatic pressure by the Nigerian government on Finland, to take action against his activities, which were linked to violence and instability in the South-East of Nigeria.
“The request for action featured during high level engagements between countries.”
In January, President Bola Tinubu hailed Finland for its move, saying government would not tolerate actions and statements that could lead to divisiveness among citizens.
Receiving the Letters of Credence from the Finnish Ambassador to Nigeria, Ms Sanna Selin, at the State House, the President said Finland, by the arrest of Ekpa, had mitigated an action that threatened peaceful coexistence.
His words: “I must thank you for your record on safeguarding human rights in our country with the trial of Simon Ekpa. Nigeria is indivisible. We have been through turbulent times, and we don’t want to promote terrorism.
“I am a child born into activism, but not divisiveness. We need cohesion and cooperation to bring about development. Our watchword is stability and cohesion to move the country forward.
“I know what the rule of law means. The rule of law safeguards our democratic credentials, morals and values. We must respect the rule of law.”
The leader of IPOB, Nnamdi Kanu, is currently facing charges bordering of treason in Abuja.
