The Finnish government has frozen the assets of Simon Ekpa, a self-proclaimed Biafran separatist leader, following allegations of terrorism-related activities.
The assets of companies linked to Ekpa and four of his associates, who are also in custody, were included in the freeze, according to reports by Finnish newspaper Yle.
Ekpa is currently held at Kylmäkoski Prison, a high-security facility established in 1993 and regarded as one of the toughest prisons globally.
On November 21, 2024, a district court in Päijät-Häme ordered his remand after Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) arrested him and four others for alleged terrorist offences.
Authorities accuse Ekpa of spreading terrorist propaganda via social media, with the alleged crimes committed in 2021 in Lahti municipality.
Ekpa, who refers to himself as the Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile, is charged with inciting violence and instigating terror in Nigeria’s South-East region. His activities are linked to the enforcement of the controversial Sit-at-Home directive, which has significantly disrupted economic activities in the region.
The Finnish government has stated that Ekpa’s offences are not bailable, and his trial is scheduled to begin in May 2025.
