A widely shared post claiming that a Finnish court approved Simon Ekpa’s extradition to Nigeria has been confirmed as fake.
The misleading post spread on social media platforms like 𝕏 (formerly Twitter), Facebook, and TikTok, accompanied by an AI-generated image of Ekpa in a prison uniform.
“There has been no decision on extradition,” said Kaarle Gummerus, Ekpa’s lawyer.
The claim alleged that the Päijät-Häme district court in Lahti ruled on Ekpa’s extradition on April 18, 2025. Several blogs and news outlets, including Instabloggja and Nigerian Stories, ran the headline: Finnish Court Approves Simon Ekpa’s Extradition to Nigeria.
The false report gained traction when former presidential aide Reno Omokri referenced it on his 𝕏 account. Daily Times also published the fake news as its front-page cover story on Wednesday, using the AI-generated image.
Ekpa, a Finnish-Nigerian dual citizen, was arrested in Finland on November 21, 2024, over alleged terrorism charges. He remains in Finnish custody, with trial proceedings expected in June 2025.
What Finnish Authorities Actually Said
A Finnish fact-checking group investigated the claim by reviewing official sources such as Yle and the Päijät-Häme district court. No credible record of any extradition ruling was found.
“NBI has received similar reports but is unaware of any extradition decisions,” said Mikko Laaksonen, a senior investigator at Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation.
Ekpa was jailed for allegedly spreading terrorist propaganda through social media in 2021 while living in Lahti. Finnish authorities say he encouraged violent actions in Nigeria’s southeast.
Despite speculation, Nigeria has not made any public extradition request. Finnish officials confirm Ekpa’s case remains open, with no official decision on his extradition.
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