Finnish authorities freeze Simon Ekpa’s assets, puts him in toughest prison

The Finnish government has frozen the assets of Simon Ekpa, a self-proclaimed Biafran agitator facing accusations of terrorism-related activities.

Assets linked to his companies and four alleged accomplices, who are currently in custody, have also been frozen, according to Yle, a Finnish newspaper.

Ekpa is being held in Kylmäkoski Prison, known as one of the world’s most secure facilities. The prison, located in Kylmäkoski municipality, was established in January 1993.

On November 21, Ekpa was remanded by a district court in Päijät-Häme following his arrest by the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). The arrest, which included four other suspects, was in connection with alleged terrorism offences.

The former athlete and self-declared Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government-In-Exile is accused of using social media to propagate terrorist ideologies. Authorities claim Ekpa incited violence in Nigeria’s southeast region, particularly through his alleged involvement in the controversial Sit-At-Home directive, which has disrupted economic activities in the area.

The Finnish authorities confirmed that Ekpa’s alleged crimes, committed in 2021 in the Lahti municipality, are non-bailable offences.

His trial is scheduled to begin in May 2025.