In a significant legal development with international implications, Nigerian separatist leader Simon Ekpa made an appearance before the Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland on Friday, May 30, as the Finnish government commenced his terrorism trial. This follows his arrest in November 2024 on suspicion of terror-related activities, including incitement to violence and terrorism financing.
Ekpa stands accused of leveraging social media platforms to incite violence and foment unrest within Nigeria's South-east region, all in furtherance of his secessionist agitation for an independent Biafra. Prosecutors are demanding a six-year prison sentence for Ekpa, asserting that his activities may constitute terrorism under Finnish law. State prosecutor Sampsa Hakala affirmed the strength of their case, stating, "We have a great deal of evidence regarding this individual’s online activity and communications."
During earlier interrogations, Ekpa has denied allegations against him, including claims that he ordered weapons for pro-Biafra groups. A dual Finnish-Nigerian citizen, Ekpa is known for his association with a faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a separatist organization advocating for the independence of Nigeria’s southeast, a region that endured a devastating civil war from 1967 to 1970. Beyond his separatist activism, Ekpa has also held a local political role in Finland, serving as a representative for Finland’s conservative National Coalition Party in Lahti, where he was a member of the city’s public transport committee. The trial's commencement marks a critical juncture in the legal proceedings surrounding Ekpa's controversial activities.
