Finnish Court Orders Simon Ekpa's Extradition To Nigeria

The Päijät-Häme District Court in Lahti, Finland, has approved the extradition of Simon Ekpa, the controversial Finnish- based Nigerian separatist agitator, to the country.

Apr 24, 2025 - 00:29

Finnish Court Orders Simon Ekpa's Extradition To Nigeria

Agency Report-------- The Päijät-Häme District Court in Lahti, Finland, has approved the extradition of Simon Ekpa, the controversial Finnish- based Nigerian separatist agitator, to the country.
The court in a ruling on April 18, 2025, asked the Finnish authorities to transfer Ekpa to Nigeria, an event scheduled for July 15, 2025.
Ekpa, the self- styled “Prime Minister” of the Biafra Republic in Exile," had been "the man behind mask," in the resurgence of violent separatist activities, especially in the Southeast geopolitical zone

Upon his arrival in Nigeria, Ekpa is expected to face multiple charges including terrorism, conspiracy, incitement of violence, and crimes against the state, and would likely be one of the most closely watched in recent Nigerian legal history, with domestic and international human rights groups expected to monitor the proceedings.

But, contrary to persistent reports in Nigerian media and some government statements, Simon Ekpa is not a member or affiliated with the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, which has repeatedly distanced itself from him. IPOB has severally maintained that it had no factions and does not recognize Ekpa’s authority or activities, pointing out that instead, Ekpa leads a self-formed group known as “Autopilot,” and had been linked to a criminal armed wing referred to as the Biafra Liberation Army, BLA, —a network accused of kidnappings, assassinations, and enforcing violent “sit-at-home” orders in Nigeria’s southeast. Critics argue that labeling him as part of IPOB is both misleading and dangerous, as it conflates a non-violent group with violent extremists.
“We don’t understand why the Nigerian government and media continue to tag him as a leader of a faction of IPOB. That is pure misinformation and deceptive,” an IPOB spokesperson stated. “Simon Ekpa runs his own network of criminals and kidnappers, and his actions have nothing to do with the actual Biafran struggle or IPOB’s ideology of non-violence.”
Ekpa was arrested in Lahti, Finland, in November 2024 after months of surveillance and investigation. He was accused by Finnish police of inciting violence from abroad using social media broadcasts, which allegedly led to attacks on civilians and Nigerian security forces. Four other suspects were also detained in connection with financing and facilitating his activities.
The Federal Government, which sought his extradition since early 2023, hailed the court’s decision as a breakthrough. A senior official from the Ministry of Defence called it “a triumph for justice and a stern warning to those who think they can destabilize Nigeria from foreign soil.”
Ekpa’s extradition was not without legal challenges. Finland traditionally does not extradite its citizens outside the EU or Nordic region. However, after Nigeria presented compelling evidence under the Rome Statute—ratified by both nations—a rare agreement was reached. Finnish authorities emphasized that the ruling complied with international law and due process.