Simon Ekpa, a Nigerian and self-proclaimed spokesperson for the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) residing in Lahti, Finland, is under investigation for a money-raising crime, according to the Central Criminal Police (KRP).
Ekpa was arrested on Thursday morning and later released the same day. While the KRP did not confirm Ekpa’s name, his neighbor claims to have seen the situation unfold.
Criminal inspector Tommi Reen, who heads the investigation, confirmed that the KRP conducted an operation in Lahti on Thursday related to the ongoing preliminary investigation into a suspected money collection crime. The police have been investigating the case since September and October 2022, and the actual preliminary investigation into the case began at the start of February. Based on this, Ekpa is suspected of collecting money in violation of the Money Collection Act.
The police have questioned Ekpa, but the investigation is still in the early stages. Yle, a Finnish news outlet, met with Ekpa on Friday morning, but he declined to comment on the criminal suspicions. He said he would meet with the police later in the day. However, Yle could not reach Ekpa again on Friday evening.
The police have received several contacts about Ekpa’s activities on social media and are investigating whether there is any reason to suspect him of other crimes. In an interview with Yle, Ekpa claimed to lead an outlawed group from Lahti that aims to establish an independent state of Biafra in southeastern Nigeria. He has stated that he accepts the use of violence against Nigerian government forces and imposed a curfew on certain days of the week for residents of five states in southeastern Nigeria.
According to Yle, Ekpa and his troops are feared in the region, and his orders are followed. His Twitter video, in which he orders people to boycott the elections and stay in their homes, has already been viewed over a million times. The Nigerian government has requested Finland’s intervention several times to prevent Ekpa’s activities.
Ekpa has lived in Finland for a long time and is involved in local politics in Lahti. He is a member of the coalition and serves as a member of the public transport board of the Lahti region.
The investigation is ongoing, and the police have not provided further updates.
