Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) separatist leader, Simon Ekpa, is to be extradited to Nigeria on July 15, 2025 following an approval granted by a Finnish court.
The Federal Government has welcomed the ruling, describing it as “a major step for justice” and a strong signal to those “who seek to destabilize the country from foreign shores.”
Nigerian officials submitted a proof under the Rome Statute—ratified by both Finland and Nigeria—to support the extradition. Finnish authorities said the court’s decision adhered to due process and international legal standards.
The Päijät-Häme District Court in Lahti approved Nigeria’s longstanding request last Thursday, with the extradition scheduled for July 15.
Ekpa is facing charges of incitement, terrorism, and conspiracy.
Ekpa, who addresses himself as the “Prime Minister” of the self-declared Biafra Republic Government-in-Exile, has been accused of causing violence in southeastern Nigeria from abroad.
He was arrested in November 2024 after months of surveillance by Finnish authorities.
IPOB has severally denied any link with Ekpa, saying “Ekpa operates independently. Linking him to IPOB is misleading and dangerous,” said an IPOB spokesperson. “His actions are not part of our struggle.”
Instead, Ekpa leads a faction known as “Autopilot,” who is believed to have a link with a militant outfit called the Biafra Liberation Army (BLA).
Authorities accuse the faction of being responsible for the violent “sit-at-home” orders, kidnappings, and targeted killings in southeast Nigeria.
Ekpa’s upcoming trial in Nigeria is expected to draw global attention, with observers watching closely how the case unfolds.
