Finland’s legal system does not allow for bail, as confirmed by Mikko Laaksonen, a Senior Detective Superintendent at the National Bureau of Investigation, in an email to PUNCH.
Meanwhile, Simon Ekpa’s supporters gathered in Finland on Friday, November 29, 2024, to announce the creation of the United States of Biafra.
The Finnish government had arrested Ekpa and four others the previous week on suspicion of terrorism-related offenses, including inciting violence and financing terrorist activities.
The Finnish police stated that Ekpa, who refers to himself as the Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government-in-Exile, allegedly used social media to promote violence in the South-East region of Nigeria, targeting both civilians and authorities.
Local news outlet Yle reported that Ekpa was remanded in custody by the Päijät-Häme District Court, facing charges of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent.
The Finnish Central Criminal Police confirmed the arrests and said that other suspects were detained for allegedly funding terrorism. Ekpa’s trial is set for May 2025.
Regarding Ekpa’s detention, Laaksonen clarified that Finland’s criminal procedures do not allow bail. Instead, suspects may be subject to remand or a travel ban, depending on the case, to restrict their freedom of movement.
He said, “Finnish criminal procedure/coercive measures do not recognise bail procedure. Our procedure is based on, depending on the case, remand or travel ban as coercive measures for limiting freedom of movement for persons suspected of offences to which such measures are applicable.”
On Friday, November 29, Ekpa’s supporters gathered in Lahti, Finland, for a convention where they proclaimed the United States of Biafra.
Prior to the event, videos surfaced on social media showing a large number of Nigerians arriving in Finland for the gathering, which they called the “Biafra Mass Exodus 2024.”
One of the convention’s organizers, Dr. Ngozi Orabueze, introduced herself as the Chief of Staff of the United States of Biafra.
Orabueze, a family nurse practitioner in Georgia, USA, was appointed Minister of Health, Oil, and Gas for the Biafra Republic Government-in-Exile in 2023 by Ekpa.
Orabueze, who has over 17,000 followers on social media, shared posts leading up to the event. She wrote about Biafrans coming to Finland in large numbers for the re-declaration of their independent state. On November 28, she posted a video of a large crowd of Igbo speakers arriving at the Finnish airport.
On November 29, she declared that Biafrans had officially re-declared their independence and announced that they would now have their own currency, Biafra coins, and their own time zone, Biafra time. She notified both the Nigerian government and the international community of this declaration.
Initially planned for December 2, the independence declaration was pushed forward due to Ekpa’s arrest.
In her post, Orabueze wrote, “Breaking: It is done. Biafrans in Finland for the declaration of the independent United States of Biafra. Power belongs to the people.”
She later added, “Biafra has been re-declared today, 29th of November 2024, by Ngozi Orabueze, the Chief of Staff, United States of Biafra. Congratulations to all Biafrans all over the world.”
Before the declaration, a video of Simon Ekpa addressing his supporters was shown.
In the video, Ekpa urged, “We were free before Lord Lugard came. If you want the oil, take it and leave us alone. We are tired of living as baboons and monkeys. We want to be given the opportunity to practise what we have studied.”
As the video ended, the crowd chanted “USB, USB, USB,” referring to the United States of Biafra.
Orabueze then took the oath of office and listed the states included in the newly declared United States of Biafra, which were met with cheers in both Igbo and English.
These included Anambra State, Okigwe State, Nnewi State, Ogoni State, Opobo State, Ikwerre State, Etche State, Okrika State, Ngwa State, Orlu State, among others.
Following the declaration, the crowd sang a traditional Igbo song, “Biafra aga’m arapu gi,” meaning “Biafra, I will never let you go.”
Additional videos shared on social media showed supporters arriving at Helsinki’s airport, excited for the event.
One supporter, @Charedims, shared a video from her flight, explaining that people from all over the world were gathering in Lahti for the convention.
She wrote: “Biafrans all over the world from different continents everywhere are converging on Lahti for the convention.
“On December 2, when all votes are counted and collated, a mandate will be given to our prime minister, Simon Ekpa Njoku, who is currently answering some questions with the Finnish authorities; when the votes are counted, he will then declare the restore of the independent state of Biafra, which means he has the legal rights to get us Biafra. That is why you are seeing everybody jumping up and down.”
KanyiDaily recalls that the Finnish district court had scheduled May 2025 as the deadline for prosecutors to file charges against pro-Biafra agitator, Simon Ekpa.
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