The Nigerian Defence Headquarters (DHQ) has announced plans to extradite Simon Ekpa, a self-declared leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to face legal action in Nigeria.
Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, the Director of Defence Information, stated that the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Chris Musa, welcomed recent developments in Finland, where Ekpa is facing legal challenges.
“The CDS is happy with his arrest in Finland, with the hope this will be a step towards his extradition to Nigeria so that he will face justice,” Gusau said.
Ekpa, based in Finland, is accused of encouraging violence in southeastern Nigeria through social media.
Finnish authorities, including the Central Criminal Police, allege that Ekpa has used his platforms to spread separatist propaganda linked to IPOB and to incite attacks on civilians and security forces.
Simon Ekpa was arrested in Lahti by Finnish police in February 2023 over alleged financial crimes, including soliciting funds through unlawful means. Although he was released later the same day, investigations into his activities continued.
More recently, a district court in Lahti ordered his detention on charges of public incitement to commit crimes with terrorist intent in Nigeria, dating back to August 2021.
Authorities have identified four other suspects connected to the investigation, accusing them of financing terrorism. These individuals, born in the 1960s and 1970s, are alleged to have committed related crimes in Lahti in August 2022.
Finnish police have praised international cooperation in advancing the investigation.
Despite his political role in Finland, including serving as a deputy councillor and member of a public transport board, Ekpa has used his platform to call for southeastern Nigeria’s secession and election boycotts.
