Finnish Authorities Deny Approving Simon Ekpa’s Extradition

On April 18, 2025, several social media platforms and blogs circulated a viral post claiming that a Finnish court had approved the extradition of Simon Ekpa, a controversial Biafra separatist figure, from Finland to Nigeria. The post, allegedly referencing a judgment from the Päijät-Häme district court in Lahti, included an AI-generated image showing Ekpa in what appeared to be a prison uniform.

Popular platforms such as Instabloggja and Nigerian Stories shared the claim, and it quickly gained traction across X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and TikTok. Reno Omokri, a former presidential aide, also referenced the claim on X, while Daily Times, a national newspaper, published the alleged news on its front page the following day.

However, a closer investigation reveals that the claim is false. While it is true that Ekpa was arrested in Finland on November 21, 2024, and remains in custody pending trial for allegedly spreading terrorist propaganda, there has been no ruling regarding his extradition to Nigeria.

Ekpa, who holds both Finnish and Nigerian citizenship, is accused of inciting violence and promoting terrorism in southeastern Nigeria through his social media accounts. Finnish authorities have confirmed that he will remain in custody until his trial, with court proceedings expected to begin in June 2025.

CableCheck conducted a verification by reviewing official websites, including that of Finnish broadcaster Yle and the Päijät-Häme district court. No credible records supported the extradition claim. Additionally, Kaarle Gummerus, Ekpa’s lawyer, confirmed via email that no such decision had been made by any court in Finland. Mikko Laaksonen, a senior detective at Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation, also stated that the agency is unaware of any court order concerning extradition.

Despite Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to have Ekpa extradited, Finnish legal authorities have not made any official ruling on the matter, and it is unclear if a formal extradition request has even been submitted. The claim, though widely circulated, remains entirely unsubstantiated.