Ekpa Not Bailable, Will Remain in Detention – Finnish Detective

Simon Ekpa, a prominent pro-Biafran agitator, will remain in detention in Finland over the Christmas period as he faces charges related to terrorism. Finland’s legal system does not allow for bail, and the country’s National Bureau of Investigation has confirmed that Ekpa will not be released until his trial. Ekpa, who has been described as the self-proclaimed Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government-in-Exile, was arrested alongside four others for alleged involvement in terror-related activities, including inciting violence and financing terrorism. Ekpa’s detention follows accusations that he used social media to incite violence in southeastern Nigeria, specifically targeting civilians and authorities.

His case will be heard in May 2025, and a Finnish court has already remanded him in custody for charges related to public incitement of crime with terrorist intent. Mikko Laaksonen, a Senior Detective Superintendent at the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation, confirmed to Saturday Punch that Finland does not have a bail system and instead uses measures such as remand or travel bans to restrict the freedom of suspects.

In the meantime, Ekpa’s followers have taken bold steps in support of his cause, gathering in Lahti, Finland, for a declaration of the “United States of Biafra” on November 29, 2024. The event, dubbed the “Biafra Mass Exodus 2024,” was marked by significant numbers of Nigerians traveling to Finland to participate. Dr. Ngozi Orabueze, the self-declared Chief of Staff of the newly announced United States of Biafra, led the declaration. Orabueze, who has been appointed by Ekpa as Minister of Health and Oil for the Biafra Republic Government-in-Exile, stated that the Biafrans in Finland had now adopted their own currency, “Biafra coins,” and time zone, and notified both the Nigerian government and the international community of the move.

This declaration, originally set for December 2, 2024, was brought forward following Ekpa’s arrest. A video of Ekpa played during the conference showed him stating that the Biafran people were once free before British colonial rule, and he expressed frustration with the Nigerian government. The declaration was met with chants of “USB,” referring to the United States of Biafra, as Orabueze swore an oath and listed the states that would constitute the new entity. The event culminated in a song of allegiance to Biafra, with attendees expressing their unwavering support for the cause.

Despite this, both the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and the Movement for the Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra (MASSOB) distanced themselves from the event. IPOB’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful, labeled the gathering a criminal act, and MASSOB acknowledged the declaration but emphasized that it did not signify actual independence from Nigeria. MASSOB’s spokesperson, Sunday Edeson, also stated that while they supported the declaration of freedom, the reality remained that the group still operated under Nigerian control.

Meanwhile, calls for Ekpa’s extradition to Nigeria have emerged. Nigeria does not have an extradition agreement with Finland, and Finnish authorities have declined to comment on the matter. Legal experts suggest that while the lack of a bilateral extradition treaty could complicate matters, international conventions on criminal matters may still allow for his transfer to Nigeria. However, this would require meeting specific legal conditions.