Finnish authorities have confirmed that Simon Ekpa, the self-proclaimed leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), will remain in detention ahead of his trial.
This decision follows the Finnish legal system’s refusal to grant bail in cases like his.
Ekpa, who holds dual Nigerian and Finnish citizenship, was arrested on November 21 by Finnish police and later remanded into custody by the Päijät-Häme District Court.
He faces charges of “spreading terrorist propaganda on social media,” allegedly committed in 2021 in Lahti, Finland.
Authorities accuse Ekpa of inciting violence and terrorism in Nigeria’s southeastern region through his online activities.
This has led the Nigerian government to request his extradition for prosecution. Ekpa’s trial is set for May 2025.
In response to queries about Ekpa’s potential for bail, Mikko Laaksonen, Senior Detective Superintendent at Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation, clarified Finland’s legal framework.
In an email on Saturday, Laaksonen explained, “Finnish criminal procedure does not allow for bail in such cases.”
He went further to assert that, under Finnish law, suspects are either remanded in custody or placed under a travel ban, depending on the case, to restrict their freedom of movement until trial.
As a result, Ekpa will remain in custody as the legal process continues, with Finnish authorities prioritizing measures that ensure he will remain within their jurisdiction until his court appearance.
