Finnish authorities have frozen assets belonging to Simon Ekpa, a controversial pro-Biafra agitator, over his alleged involvement in terrorist activities.
The National Bureau of Investigation (Keskusrikospoliisi or KRP) officially confirmed the asset freeze, targeting Ekpa and other suspects involved in potential terrorist crimes.
“The KRP has frozen the assets of Simon Ekpa and other suspects in terrorist crimes, as well as associations and companies associated with them,” authorities stated.
Ekpa was arrested on 21 November alongside four other suspects on suspicion of terrorist activities.
Finnish police allegations suggest that he “has contributed to violence and crimes against civilians in South-eastern Nigeria.”
The District Court of Päijät-Häme ordered Ekpa’s imprisonment with “probable cause on suspicion of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent.”
Finnish authorities have scheduled his potential court proceedings for May 2025.
Prosecutors suspect Ekpa committed crimes related to financing terrorism and potentially violated the Finnish Money Collection Act.
The alleged criminal activities were reportedly conducted between 23 August 2021 and 18 November 2024 in Lahti, Finland.
As a Nigerian-Finnish citizen, Ekpa leads Autopilot, a faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a separatist group advocating for an independent state carved from south-eastern and parts of south-southern Nigeria.
IPOB has been previously linked to deadly attacks in these regions, though the organization consistently denies involvement.
Following Ekpa’s arrest, the IPOB faction loyal to Nnamdi Kanu publicly disowned him, declaring that he was never an official member of their organization.
Ekpa’s legal representative, Ilkka Kopra, maintains that his client denies any involvement in the alleged terrorist activities. Police justify his continued detention by arguing that his release could potentially compromise the investigation through witness interference and potential continuation of criminal activities.
Currently, Ekpa is incarcerated at Kylmäkoski Prison, an institution established in January 1993 and renowned for housing individuals accused of serious criminal offenses. The prison is considered one of the most stringent correctional facilities in the world.