Finnish authorities have frozen the assets of Simon Ekpa, a self-proclaimed Biafran separatist leader accused of terrorism-related activities, who has been in custody for several weeks.
The government also froze the assets of companies linked to Ekpa and four of his alleged accomplices, who are also in detention.
According to Yle, a local news outlet, Ekpa is being held at Kylmäkoski Prison, one of the toughest correctional facilities in the world.
It is also reported that Ekpa may remain in detention through the Christmas and New Year holidays, as Finland’s legal system does not allow for bail in such cases.
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Mikko Laaksonen, Senior Detective Superintendent at Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation, confirmed this and stated that Ekpa is unlikely to be released on bail.
Kylmäkoski Prison, located in Vanhamaantie, Akaa, Finland, is a high-security facility known for housing individuals convicted of serious crimes.
It has been in operation since 1993 and primarily houses male prisoners.
Yle’s Head of International Communications, Mika Ojamies, confirmed Ekpa’s incarceration at this facility in response to inquiries from PUNCH.
Ekpa, who claims the title of “Prime Minister” of the Biafran Republic Government-in-Exile, was arrested roughly four weeks ago along with four others on charges related to terrorism, including incitement to violence and financing terrorism.
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Finnish authorities allege that Ekpa used social media to incite violence in Nigeria’s South-East, targeting both civilians and government officials.
Ekpa is currently remanded on charges of public incitement to commit terrorist crimes.
The Kylmäkoski Prison, known for housing individuals who have committed serious offenses, including violent crimes and sex offenses, is the largest closed-unit facility in Finland.
It currently holds 113 prisoners, including both convicts and remand detainees.
Kylmäkoski was featured in the 2023 Netflix series Inside the World’s Toughest Prisons, in which journalist Raphael Rowe interviewed some of the prison’s most dangerous inmates.
Two of these inmates, Toni and Olli, were notorious for their violent actions and showed no remorse during their conversations with Rowe.
A prison officer in the series highlighted a troubling trend in which new inmates smuggle in drugs, including Subutex, cocaine, and amphetamines, as well as cell phones.
Subutex, a popular drug in Finland, has contributed to challenges in managing the prison population, particularly with prisoners affected by drugs and violence.
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