Why Simon Ekpa Cannot Be Granted Bail in Finland
Finnish authorities have explained why Simon Ekpa, a prominent pro-Biafra activist, cannot be granted bail while facing charges in Finland.
Mikko Laaksonen, a Senior Detective Superintendent at Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation, stated that the Finnish legal system does not allow bail for individuals accused of crimes like those Ekpa is suspected of. In an interview with Punch newspaper on Saturday, Laaksonen emphasized that the nature of the charges against Ekpa precludes the possibility of bail.
Ekpa, along with four others, was arrested on November 21, 2023, on suspicion of involvement in terrorist activities. Finnish authorities have accused Ekpa of contributing to violence and attacks on civilians in southeastern Nigeria. As a result, the District Court of Päijät-Häme ordered that he remain in custody due to “probable cause” under the suspicion of inciting public acts of terrorism.
The court hearing for Ekpa’s case is scheduled for May 2025. Finnish police also suspect him of financing terrorism and violating the Finnish Money Collection Act by allegedly raising funds for illegal activities between August 2021 and November 2024 in Lahti, Finland.
Ekpa is affiliated with the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a group advocating for the secession of southeastern Nigeria to form an independent Biafran state. Although IPOB has repeatedly denied any involvement in violent attacks, the group has been linked to several deadly incidents in the region.
Following Ekpa’s arrest, a faction of IPOB led by Nnamdi Kanu distanced itself from Ekpa, asserting that he was never part of their movement.
Regarding the issue of bail, Laaksonen explained that Finnish criminal procedure does not accommodate bail as a legal option. Instead, the system relies on measures like remand or travel bans to restrict the movement of suspects. Laaksonen confirmed that, under these provisions, Ekpa will likely remain in detention until his trial in 2025.
