Biafra: Simon Ekpa refused bail, may remain in detention till May, 2025

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By Madu Obi

Self - acclaimed Prime Minister of Biafra Government in Exile, Simon Ekpa, who was arrested in Finland for alleged terrorism-related issues, has been denied bail and may remain in detention till May 2025 when the case was adjourned to.

As it stands, Ekpa will spend Christmas in detention as the Finnish legal system does not permit bail, according to a Senior Detective Superintendent at Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation, Mikko Laaksonen.

The Finnish government had last week announced the arrest of Ekpa alongside four others on suspicion of terror-related activities, including incitement to violence and terrorism financing.

The Finnish police also confirmed that Ekpa was allegedly using social media to promote violence in the South-East region, targeting civilians and authorities.

Currently, Ekpa is remanded in custody by the Päijät-Häme District Court on charges of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent.

Also, Ekpa is scheduled to face charges in May 2025, according to Finnish authorities.

An official of Finland said: “Finnish criminal procedure/coercive measures do not recognize bail procedure.

“Our procedure is based on remand or travel ban as coercive measures for limiting freedom of movement for persons suspected of offences to which such measures are applicable.”

Meanwhile, the Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB, has said that it is not part of what Ekpa is doing. IPOB spokesperson, Emma Powerful said: “IPOB has no involvement in any conference. Those people (Ekpa’s faction) are criminals supporting illegal activities to destroy our land. There is no such thing as a declaration of Biafra from our side.

Any claim that IPOB is hosting a conference is false. When IPOB decides to make such an important announcement, the whole world will know. Those making such statements are fake.”

The spokesperson for the Movement for Actualization of the Sovereign State of Biafra, MASOB, Sunday Edeson, stated that if IPOB succeed in realizing Biafra through its declaration, MASSOB would accept and rejoice with them.