Finnish authorities have frozen the assets of Simon Ekpa, a self-proclaimed Biafran agitator, amid ongoing investigations into allegations of terrorism-related activities. In addition to Ekpa’s personal holdings, the assets of companies linked to him and four of his alleged accomplices, who are currently in custody, have also been frozen, according to Yle, a Finnish newspaper.
Ekpa is currently detained in Kylmäkoski Prison, renowned as one of the world’s most secure correctional facilities. Located in the Kylmäkoski municipality and established in 1993, the prison houses 113 inmates, including individuals convicted of violent crimes and other serious offenses. It is Finland’s largest closed-unit facility and was prominently featured in a 2023 Netflix documentary series, Inside the World’s Toughest Prisons.
The documentary, hosted by journalist Raphael Rowe, offered an inside look at the prison’s operations and its high-risk inmates, some of whom have histories of extreme violence. Prison officials also highlighted ongoing challenges, such as smuggling o
f drugs like Subutex, cocaine, and amphetamines, as well as illicit cell phones.
Ekpa was arrested on November 21 by the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) and subsequently remanded by the Päijät-Häme District Court for spreading terrorist propaganda via social media. The charges stem from incidents dating back to 2021 in the Lahti municipality, where Ekpa, the self-declared Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government In-Exile, is accused of inciting violence in Nigeria’s southeast region.
The controversial separatist has been linked to the Sit-At-Home orders, which have disrupted economic activities across Nigeria’s southeastern states. Calls for his arrest intensified following allegations of his involvement in instigating unrest and promoting terrorism.
Finnish authorities have clarified that Ekpa’s charges are non-bailable. His trial is scheduled to begin in May 2025.
