The Finnish police have confirmed that Simon Ekpa, the self-proclaimed leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), will remain in custody until his trial, as the country’s legal system does not allow for bail in cases like his.
Ekpa, a dual citizen of Nigeria and Finland, was arrested on November 21 by Finnish law enforcement and subsequently remanded in custody by the district court of Päijät-Häme. He faces allegations of “spreading terrorist propaganda on social media,” a crime he is accused of committing in 2021 in Lahti, Finland.
According to Finnish authorities, Ekpa is charged with instigating violence and inciting terror in Nigeria’s southeast region through his online activities. His actions have prompted the Nigerian federal government to seek his extradition for prosecution.
Ekpa’s trial is scheduled to commence in May 2025.
When questioned about the possibility of bail for Ekpa, Mikko Laaksonen, a senior detective superintendent at Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation, explained the country’s stance in an email on Saturday. He stated, “Finnish criminal procedure/coercive measures do not recognise bail procedure.”
Laaksonen further elaborated, “Our procedure is based on, depending on the case, remand or travel ban as coercive measures for limiting the freedom of movement for persons suspected of offences to which such measures are applicable.”
This means Ekpa will remain in custody as Finnish law prioritizes strict measures to ensure the accused remains within the jurisdiction for trial.
