Finland's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Elina Valtonen, revealed during a press conference in Abuja, Nigeria, that the case of Simon Ekpa, reported to the Finnish government by Nigerian authorities, is now being handled by Finnish courts.

Simon Ekpa, who refers to himself as the Prime Minister of Biafra, has been a vocal advocate for sit-at-home orders in Nigeria’s South Eastern states, despite the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) leadership having suspended the practice.

In February 2023, just days before Nigeria’s presidential and national assembly elections, Ekpa was arrested in Finland after threatening to disrupt the elections in the Southeast. The Finnish newspaper Helsingin Sanomat reported that Ekpa was apprehended at his home in Lahti. Despite his arrest, Ekpa has continued to actively share his pro-Biafran views on social media.

Valtonen, along with her Nordic counterparts from Sweden, Iceland, Norway, and Denmark, visited Nigeria to strengthen trade relations and discuss countering violent extremism in West Africa. The delegation is also focusing on sustainable development goals and continues their tour in Ghana.

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