LAHTI, Finland — Simon Ekpa, wey be promoter of di banned group Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), don get date wey im go appear for court. Di court date for di trial come after dem arrest am for Finland for November 2024, as dem accuse am say e dey inciting pipo to commit crime with terrorist intent.
Ekpa, wey dey lead di breakaway faction of di IPOB called di Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE), don dey prison since den. Local sources for Finland report sey di District Court of Päijät-Häme na im send Ekpa go prison. Di politician, wey dey represent Lahti, don remain quiet for di duration of im detention.
As e dey prison, Ekpa fall under di Nigeria Sanction List, and dem don freeze im bank accounts due to activities wey dey linked to terrorism. Dis freeze include accounts, assets, and economic resources wey belong to Ekpa and another 16 individuals on di Sanction List.
Reports indicate say di authorities arrested Ekpa for di separatist propaganda wey e dey spread on social media. Di Nigerian President, Bola Tinubu, praise di Finnish government for di arrest, as im don warn say dem no go tolerate any actions wey fit cause division among di people.
Dis na di first time Tinubu dey address Ekpa case since di arrest, and di Nigerian government dey hope say Finland go extradite Ekpa back to Nigeria. Tukur Gusau, di spokesperson for di Nigerian Defence, express happiness over di arrest, saying e hope say dis go lead to Ekpa’s extradition to face justice.
In December 2024, BBC Pidgin reach out to Ilkka Kopra, di lawyer wey dey represent Ekpa. Di lawyer tok sey di decision to put Ekpa for prison na di court’s, and dem dey try within dia power to secure Ekpa’s release, but dem no sabi how long e go dey prison.
Rumors don dey circulate say Ekpa go appear for court in May 2025, while some sources dey claim sey di trial fit no happen as he dey still for prison. We reach out to his new lawyer, Kaarle Gummerus, who confirm sey di pre-trial file don already reach dem. Gummerus say dey go check di file to determine di next steps for di case.
When asked about di court appearance for Ekpa, e confirm sey di hearing dey scheduled for June 2025. E still dey unclear whether Finland go extradite Ekpa back to Nigeria or not.
Ekpa dey part of di National Coalition Party (NCP) in Finland, where e represent dem for di Public Transport Board in di Lahti region. However, di party don confirm sey Ekpa name no dey dia candidates list for di upcoming county and municipal elections set for April 2025.
Do you have a news tip for NNN? Please email us at editor@nnn.ng
