Simon Ekpa, the leader of the proscribed IPOB, remains in Finnish custody due to charges of spreading terrorist propaganda. Arrested on November 21, 2024, he faces trial in May 2025. Finnish authorities do not permit bail for his offense, citing their legal system’s stance on such crimes.
Simon Ekpa, the self-declared leader of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), will remain in Finnish custody pending his trial, according to Finnish law enforcement authorities. The police emphasized that the nature of the charges against Ekpa, which involve the spread of terrorist propaganda, does not allow for bail under Finnish law.
Ekpa, who was arrested on November 21, 2024, by Finnish authorities, faces accusations of inciting violence and promoting terrorism in Nigeria. These alleged actions were reportedly carried out through his social media accounts, specifically in Lahti, Finland, in 2021. As a dual citizen of Finland and Nigeria, Ekpa has been subject to both Finnish and Nigerian legal proceedings, with the Nigerian government seeking his extradition for prosecution.
Finnish officials confirmed that Ekpa's case would be tried in May 2025. Mikko Laaksonen, a senior detective with Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation, clarified that Finnish criminal procedures do not allow for bail in cases involving such charges. Instead, suspects in similar situations may be placed under remand or subjected to travel bans to limit their freedom.
