Simon Ekpa, a Finnish-Nigerian municipal politician, has been detained by the Päijät-Häme District Court on probable cause for incitement to commit crimes with terrorist intent. The alleged offense occurred in Lahti on 23 August, 2021.
The Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) is also seeking the detention of four additional Nigerian men on terrorism-related charges.
Ekpa, who has represented Finland’s National Coalition Party (NCP) in local roles, currently serves on Lahti’s public transport committee. He is a member of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) while also leading splinter separatist groups in Nigeria advocating for the establishment of an independent Biafran state in the country’s southeast.
According to the NBI, Ekpa is suspected of using his leadership position in a Nigerian separatist group to promote actions that have led to violence against civilians and authorities in southeastern Nigeria. These exploits are believed to have been coordinated from Finland, including through Ekpa’s social media channels.
“This activity has been carried out, among other means, via social media channels,” said Detective Chief Inspector Otto Hiltunen in a statement.
The NBI stated that its investigation focuses on a Finnish citizen of Nigerian descent, born in the 1980s, suspected of publicly inciting crimes with terrorist intent. The police also suspect four other individuals of financing terrorism. All five were apprehended earlier this week.
Among the suspects, Ekpa resides in the Lahti region, while two others have addresses in Helsinki. One suspect has no registered address in Finland.
History of controversy
Ekpa has previously been implicated in criminal activities. In 2023, Finnish police detained him on suspicion of fundraising fraud but released him later the same evening.
Ekpa’s separatist activism has drawn global attention, particularly his calls to boycott Nigerian elections.
“No elections will be held! Nigerian elections will not be allowed in Biafran territory in 2023,” he declared in a video on social media.
Ekpa, who was born in 1985;is a close associate of Nnamdi Kanu, detained leader of IPOB. Ekpa has also publicly justified the use of violence.
“I support violence against Nigerian government forces. This is self-defence. They constantly attack us and have committed numerous war crimes. We have no choice but to defend ourselves,” he stated.
Party responds
NCP Secretary Timo Elo declined to comment on Ekpa’s possible membership of the party.
“We never say who is and who isn’t our member. That is confidential information,” Elo told Yle.
Elo did however say that if a member of the party was suspected of terrorism offences, that would likely lead to their expulsion.
According to Elo, Ekpa’s role on the public transport commission, for example, should be assessed locally.