Finnish government freezes Simon Ekpa’s assets
The Finnish Government has frozen assets of the controversial pro-Biafra agitator Simon Ekpa and other suspects arrested on November 21, 2024 and currently in detention at the Kylmäkoski Prison in the North European country, and scheduled to be arraigned in court over alleged terrorist activities in May 2025
Penpushing reports that Keskusrikospoliisi (KRP), which is the Finnish name for the National Bureau of Investigation, made this known, while it is recalled that the Finnish police had earlier affirmed that Ekpa contributed to violence and crimes against civilians in South-Eastern Nigeria.
Penpushing further reports that the District Court of Päijät-Häme thereafter ordered that the pro-Biafra agitator be imprisoned with probable cause on suspicion of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent.
The Finnish authorities emphasized that the Biafra agitator committed the crime of collecting money in violation of the Finnish Money Collection Act, explaining that he allegedly committed the crimes between 23 August 2021 and November 18, 2024 in Lahti, a town in Finland.
Penpushing also reports that the suspect who is a Nigerian-Finnish citizen, heads Autopilot, a faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) a group leading the agitation for an independent state of Biafra, which it wants carved out from the south-east and some parts of south-south Nigeria.
The separatist group has been linked to some deadly attacks in the two regions, although it has repeatedly denied its involvement in the attacks, while it is recalled that shortly after Ekpa’s arrest, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) faction loyal to Nnamidi Kanu disowned him, and said that the pro-Biafra agitator was never its member.
Penpushing reports that Ekpa’s assistant, Ilkka Kopra, however, in reaction to the terrorism allegations said the pro-Biafra agitator has continued to deny any involvement in the alleged terrorism crime, according to the report.
The Finnish lawyer, Kopra however, said the police justified Ekpa’s continued detention arguing that if released, he could hinder the investigation by influencing witnesses and continuing criminal activities.
Penpushing further reports that Kylmäkoski Prison where Ekpa is being held was established in January 1993, reputed to be one of the world’s toughest prisons and is often used for the incarceration of people accused of committing serious crimes.
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