A Finnish court has set a deadline of May 2025 for prosecutors to file charges against Simon Ekpa, a pro-Biafra agitator accused of terrorism-related offenses.
Ekpa, who refers to himself as the Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government-in-Exile, was arrested in Finland along with four others on suspicion of inciting violence and financing terrorism.
According to Senior Detective Superintendent Mikko Laaksonen of Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation, the district court set the deadline for prosecutors to file potential charges against Ekpa.
Laaksonen noted that the investigation is ongoing and declined to provide additional details.
Ekpa is accused of using social media to incite violence in Nigeria’s South-East region, targeting civilians and government authorities.
The Finnish Central Criminal Police confirmed the arrests in a statement, stating that the other suspects were detained for allegedly financing terrorist activities.
The case has garnered international attention, with Finnish authorities emphasizing the role of cross-border cooperation in their investigation.
However, officials have refrained from disclosing further details about the extent of international collaboration.
Ekpa’s arrest has been welcomed by the Nigerian government, which described it as a critical step toward addressing the security challenges posed by his activities. The government has also pledged to monitor the legal proceedings in Finland.
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