NewStats: 3,259,756 , 8,170,840 topics. Date: Sunday, 25 May 2025 at 10:37 PM 6z2z1l

On Tuesday, some social media s and blog sites made a post claiming that a Finnish court has approved the extradition of Simon Ekpa, the controversial Biafra separatist, from Finland to Nigeria.

The judgment was said to have been delivered at the Päijät-Häme district court in Lahti on April 18, 2025.

The post was widely shared on X (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and TikTok. The viral post was accompanied by an AI-generated picture showing Ekpa in an attire that appears to be from a prison uniform.

Popular blog sites like Instabloggja and Nigerian Stories published the post.

“Finnish Court Approves Simon Ekpa’s Extradition to Nigeria. Simon Ekpa, the controversial Finnish-Nigerian separatist agitator, will be extradited to Nigeria following a Finnish court ruling on April 18, 2025,” part of the post reads.

Reno Omokri, a former presidential aide, referenced the viral post on Ekpa in a comment published via X on Wednesday.

Daily Times, a national newspaper with about one million followers across social media platforms, also amplified the post about Ekpa’s extradition.

On Wednesday, the newspaper published the picture for its front page for Wednesday’s edition. The picture shows that the viral post on the purported approval of Ekpa’s extradition by a Finnish court was the cover story of the newspaper edition.

Other versions of the viral post have been archived

BACKGROUND

Ekpa was arrested in Finland on November 21, 2024, by law enforcement agents over alleged terrorism.

He was subsequently sent to prison by the district court of Päijät-Häme for “spreading terrorist propaganda on social media”.

Ekpa was said to have committed the crime in 2021 in Lahti municipality.

He is accused of instigating violence and inciting terror in the south-east of Nigeria through his social media pages.

Before his arrest, the controversial Biafra agitator was using his social media platforms, especially on X, to incite violence in the south-east region, especially against security agents and public institutions.

Nigerian authorities have been demanding the extradition of Ekpa, a dual citizen of Finland and Nigeria, for prosecution. However, the effort has not yielded the right result.

Last year, Mikko Laaksonen, the senior detective superintendent at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Finland, disclosed that a Finnish district court fixed May 2025 for the prosecution to file charges against Ekpa.

Subsequently, Laaksonen said Ekpa would remain in custody until his trial since the alleged offence was not bailable.

Recently, Kaarle Gummerus, Ekpa’s new lawyer, said Ekpa will appear in court in June 2025 to face trial.

VERIFICATION

CableCheck conducted online searches on the websites of Yle, a broadcasting organisation in Finland, and the Päijät Häme district court. There was no credible information suggesting that a Finnish court ordered the extradition of Ekpa to Nigeria.

Although Nigerian authorities have indicated their intention to seek Ekpa’s extradition, it remains unclear whether a formal request has been submitted to Finnish authorities or when extradition proceedings might begin in court.

When CableCheck ed Gummerus via email, he said no court in Finland has taken such a decision.

“I can confirm to you that no decision has been taken in Finland. I have no information on the matter, so no such decision could have been taken,” the lawyer said.

“I wonder who is spreading such information.”

In an email sent to CableCheck, Laaksonen said Finnish NBI is unaware of any court order about the purported extradition of Ekpa.

“NBI has received similar information from different sources. However, NBI is not aware of any decisions regarding extradition that is related to the investigation in question,” Laaksonen said.

VERDICT

The claim that a Finnish court has ordered the extradition of Ekpa to Nigeria is false.

https://factcheck.thecable.ng/fact-check-no-finnish-court-didnt-approve-simon-ekpas-extradition-to-nigeria/?fbclid=IwY2xjawJ3BfBleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETF5dWtGNEhmVWZOZkhZMFNzAR4oSR0LnHiZ53oQzgh0ER3JpgTBst0Un1z3b4J6aq0MsWmlBxDVXTIazMENxg_aem_CzycWkj_k1lADDhBJTxjfg

Simon Ekpa is the biggest coward in the history of Biafra agitation.

He will never step foot in Nigeria because he knows he will be jailed for all the terror he incited in the southeast.

Salewa97:
Simon Ekpa is the biggest coward in the history of Biafra agitation.

He will never step foot in Nigeria because he knows he will be jailed for all the terror he incited in the southeast.

The Igbos are always bigger than you

The guy already told the Finish court that he is a content creator. Period.
Their judiciary is not like our own judiciary that can be corruptly influenced.

How do you extradite someone who tore his Nigerian port and disavowed his Nigerian citizenship? Simon Ekpa is a Finnish citizen alone, and if he was found guilty of any criminal offence, he should be prosecuted and jailed in Finland.

CHAI! Citizen na CITIZEN oo
u see, UK could have done same for MND

Daisyle:


He was not extradited to Nigeria from UK. He was arrested in Kenya, when he went there by himself.

u dont get it! they can protect him from anywhere once he is a CITIZEN... he could be EXTRADITED from here tooo.
~They are NOT JUST THERE for HIM

Finish people want to finish ekpa

The entire world knows the judiciary here is just a tool of a repressive government— No European Union nation would agree to send someone here for trial.
This is why institutions should not sacrifice its credibility for money.

Reno Omokri will continue to dance naked in the market square

Apkoreno Omokri is always making mockery of himself on X.

LadyExcellency:
How do you extradite someone who tore his Nigerian port and disavowed his Nigerian citizenship? Simon Ekpa is a Finnish citizen alone, and if he was found guilty of any criminal offence, he should be prosecuted and jailed in Finland.

So if u go to USA, commit crime and tore ur port.
Trump will just say, "no LadyExcellency is not a Nigerian anymore cos she tore her port"
Madam na night flight dem go use deport u back.

What will those that were rejoicing to the fake news as if they were giving Finnish citizenship do now?

Na wao but they should do quick and bring him back to face the law. He can't be there destabilizing the South East and go Scott free. He has to dance to the same tune he has been playing for his unknown gunmen boys

I the federal government bringing this charlatan back home to face his warrant

jmoore:


Nigeria is notorious for releasing terrorists under the name repentant terrorists.

Only Fulani & Niger Delta terrorists bro so called 'igbo terrorists' will never get any pardon, rehabilitation, forgiveness or amnesty

I think he's better over there. The absence of stories of him and his activities have really helped in the peace experienced in the south east for a while now.

Let the Finnish authority keep him there Biko.

That name sounds like groundnuts

Balistic4:
Finish people want to finish ekpa

God bless Biafra.....

Fake news too full this country

Lol...
When them arrest am... Them say na lie...
We all dey here... July go soon reach

A fi suru

Everyone na content creator including you too

kaludestiny10:
What will those that were rejoicing to the fake news as if they were giving Finnish citizenship do now?

What kind of news was that earlier kwanu 🤔.

They should please go ahead and approve it 🙏🙏

Wealthoptulent:
CHAI! Citizen na CITIZEN oo
u see, UK could have done same for MND

I knew it was a fake news..

lies

They will finish him in Nigeria kuje
He will now answer oni kuje 2 of Nigeria

Inamuch that Ekpa is an onyeara, I found the extradition news suspicious cos Finland and Nigeria has no extradition treaty.

Secondly, it's better for Ekpa to be punished in Finland.

Nigeria is notorious for releasing terrorists under the name repentant terrorists.

Wealthoptulent:
CHAI! Citizen na CITIZEN oo
u see, UK could have done same for MND

He was not extradited to Nigeria from UK. He was arrested in Kenya, when he went there by himself.

This government is currently on propaganda mode, All those defection claims are all propaganda machinery at work to influence narratives and minds of the public.

The government knows it is sinking fast due to its cluelessness and failures and is very desperate now to change public perception of them.

There is a Propaganda overdrive.

Salewa97:
Simon Ekpa is the biggest coward in the history of Biafra agitation.

He will never step foot in Nigeria because he knows he will be jailed for all the terror he incited in the southeast.

Is it your tears you are pouring this way?
Your tears is that after spreading fake news you woke up to reality that you are drowning in your pit of APC lies?

Salewa97:
Simon Ekpa is the biggest coward in the history of Biafra agitation.

He will never step foot in Nigeria because he knows he will be jailed for all the terror he incited in the southeast.

You were celebrating before.