The lawyer for Simon Ekpa, a Nigerian-Finnish political activist and self-proclaimed Prime Minister of Biafra Republic in Exile, has addressed the widespread media reports indicating that his client might soon face extradition to Nigeria. The reports, which have circulated in Nigerian media, claimed a Finnish court had scheduled Ekpa’s transfer by July 2025 to face charges related to alleged terrorist activities.
Ekpa’s legal counsel, Kaarle Gummerus, told BBC News Pidgin that they have not made any such decision. “I have no information that Simon Ekpa will be extradited to Nigeria. The case is still pending,” Gummerus said, emphasising that the legal process in Finland is still ongoing.
Gummerus said Ekpa will appear in court in June 2025, while the Finnish District Court of Päijät-Häme has not yet pressed formal charges. Authorities have until May 2025 to do so.
Who Is Simon Ekpa?
Simon Ekpa, born in the 1980s, is a dual citizen of Nigeria and Finland. He resides in Lahti, Finland, where he serves as a local representative for the conservative National Coalition Party. Ekpa gained prominence in 2021 after announcing on his Facebook page that IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu had appointed him as a broadcaster on the group’s radio station, Radio Biafra. He later declared himself the “Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government-in-Exile.”
IPOB has distanced itself from Ekpa, despite his claims. The organisation, banned in Nigeria and labelled a terrorist group by a Nigerian court, asserts this separation. In 2012, the group formed as a peaceful movement to advocate for the rights of the Igbo ethnic group in southeastern Nigeria. In 2020, they launched an armed wing, citing the need to defend the Igbo people. Critics argue that this has led to increased violence and suffering in the region.
Detention and Sanctions
Authorities have held Simon Ekpa in a Finnish prison since November 2024 after arresting him on suspicion of terrorist offences. The arrest came after mounting international pressure and growing concern over his activities, including calls for civil disobedience in Nigeria’s southeast region, which local authorities link to violent unrest.
In January 2025, Nigeria placed Ekpa on its national sanctions list, citing terrorism-related concerns, and froze his financial accounts. Even with these actions, neither government has confirmed any formal extradition proceedings.
Nigeria Welcomes Arrest, Eyes Extradition
The Nigerian government has openly expressed its desire to see Ekpa extradited. President Bola Tinubu, in a public statement earlier this year, thanked Finnish authorities for the arrest and reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to national unity. “The government will not tolerate actions and statements that could lead to divisiveness among citizens,” Tinubu said.
Similarly, the country’s military leadership described Ekpa’s detention as a significant development. Tukur Gusau, spokesperson for Nigeria’s Defence Headquarters, announced that the Chief of Defence Staff expresses satisfaction with Ekpa’s arrest in Finland, anticipating that this will lead to his extradition to Nigeria to face justice.
Edward Buba, the director of defence media operations, added: “We are delighted about his arrest and glad that the international community is partnering with Nigeria in our fight against terrorism.”
Challenges of International Extradition
Legal experts warn that extraditing Ekpa could face considerable obstacles. While both Nigeria and Finland are signatories to the Rome Statute—an international treaty that mandates cooperation in cases involving terrorism—extradition is not automatic.
“Terrorism is an international crime, and according to the Rome Statute, all countries that are signatories must cooperate in the arrest, punishment, and prevention of terrorism. In this case, both Nigeria and Finland are signatories,” said Nigerian lawyer Chukwuma Ezeala.
“Another question is whether we (Nigeria) have a bilateral agreement with Finland, but from all indications, there is no such agreement,” Ezeala added. “It will depend on whether Nigeria can satisfy the conditions required for Finland to extradite Ekpa.”
Human Rights Record
Another potential roadblock lies in human rights concerns. Vince Onyekwelu, a former British police officer and security analyst, noted that Finland may scrutinise Nigeria’s human rights record before agreeing to an extradition request.
“Bringing that man (Ekpa) to Nigeria to face trial is a good idea, but I don’t think the Chief of Defence Staff should rest easy, because the Finnish government will first assess Nigeria’s human rights record—and we know that our human rights record is nothing to be proud of,” Onyekwelu said.
Dual Citizenship Adds Complexity
Adding to the complexity is Ekpa’s Finnish citizenship, which grants him protections under European Union law. Since 2017, he has been active in Finnish politics as a member of the ruling National Coalition Party and has previously served as a military officer in the country.
“Also, Simon Ekpa has been a politician in Finland since 2017 and is a member of the National Coalition Party, which is currently the ruling party in Finland. He also served as a military officer in Finland. Considering Nigeria’s human rights record, do you think the National Coalition Party would feel comfortable extraditing one of their citizens to Nigeria?” Onyekwelu said.
Uche Mefor, former deputy to IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, argued that any attempt to extradite Ekpa could spark a prolonged legal battle. “Extraditing Ekpa will be a serious legal battle, and Nigeria might not succeed because Simon is a Finnish citizen,” Mefor said.
“If the matter results in trial and imprisonment, Ekpa will serve it in Finland, not Nigeria,” he added.
For now, despite diplomatic pressure and public speculation, the path to extradition remains uncertain—and politically sensitive.
