Finnish Politician Simon Ekpa Charged with Terrorism Offences Tied to Biafra Separatist Movement in Nigeria

Victor Nwoko
6 hours ago
2 min read

Screenshot of the social media X page of Lahti politician Simon Ekpa

Simon Ekpa, a 40-year-old Finnish politician originally from Nigeria, has been formally charged with terrorism-related offences connected to pro-Biafra separatist activities in southeastern Nigeria. Finnish prosecutors have charged Ekpa with public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent and participation in a terrorist group.

Ekpa, now a Finnish citizen, is affiliated with the ruling National Coalition Party (NCP) led by Prime Minister Petteri Orpo. He currently serves on Lahti’s public transport board and has previously held positions in three other municipal bodies.

The Finnish Prosecution Service stated that the charges stem from Ekpa’s alleged efforts to promote the re-establishment of Biafra, a region that attempted to secede from Nigeria in the late 1960s. Authorities believe Ekpa's propaganda incited violence and criminal acts against civilians and public officials in Nigeria.

The charges were formally filed on Friday by the Deputy Prosecutor General. The case will be heard in the Päijät-Häme District Court in Lahti. A trial date has not yet been announced.

Ekpa is suspected of committing these offences between August 2021 and November 2024. He was arrested in Finland in November 2024 and remains in custody. He denies all allegations.

The prosecution is part of a wider investigation led by the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), in coordination with Nigerian authorities. During the probe, five individuals were detained. Four of them were suspected of financing terrorism-related activities but were later released during the preliminary phase.

Authorities believe Ekpa coordinated and disseminated separatist messages from his home in Lahti. His online broadcasts and public statements are alleged to have fueled unrest and violence in Nigeria’s Biafra region, where tensions between separatist groups and the central government continue to escalate.

Under Finnish law, individuals can be prosecuted for terrorist acts committed abroad if they are Finnish citizens or residents, or if the crime carries broader international consequences.