Breaking News: Simon Ekpa has arrived in Nigeria following the approval of his extradition by the Finnish government. He is currently en route to the DSS headquarters in Abuja.
Ekpa’s return is linked to allegations of inciting violence, including the persecution and killings of Nigerian military personnel while he was residing in Finland, under the guise of fighting for the Biafra cause.
Simon Ekpa, the controversial Finnish-Nigerian separatist agitator, will be extradited to Nigeria following a Finnish court ruling on April 18, 2025.
According to Daily Times, the Pรคijรคt-Hรคme District Court in Lahti approved Nigeriaโs longstanding request, with the transfer set for July 15.
Ekpa, who calls himself the โPrime Ministerโ of the self-proclaimed Biafra Republic Government-in-Exile, is accused of inciting unrest in southeastern Nigeria from abroad. Though frequently linked to the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) by media and officials, IPOB has consistently disavowed him, stating it has no factions and maintains a strict non-v+olยฃnt stance.
Instead, Ekpa leads a fringe group known as โAutopilot,โ allegedly connected to a criminal network called the Biafra Liberation Army (BLA). This group has been blamed for v+olยฃnt โsit-at-homeโ enforcements, k+dnn@pings, and targeted k+llings in the region.
โEkpa operates independently. Linking him to IPOB is misleading and d+ngยฃrous,โ said an IPOB spokesperson. โHis actions are not part of our struggle.โ
Arrested in Finland in November 2024 after months of surveillance, Ekpa faces charges including incitement, t+rr@rism, and conspiracy. Authorities say his broadcasts from abroad tr+ggยฃred att+cks on civilians and security personnel. Four others have been detained for allegedly funding his network.
Nigeria presented evidence under the Rome Statuteโratified by both nationsโto secure the rare extradition. Finnish officials emphasized the decision followed due process and international law.
The Nigerian government welcomed the ruling, calling it a โmajor step for justiceโ and a message to those seeking to destabilize the country from abroad. Ekpaโs upcoming trial is expected to attract major global attention.