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Nigerian separatist leader Simon Ekpa appeared before the Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland on Friday, May 30, as Finnish authorities officially opened a terrorism trial against him.
Ekpa, who holds dual citizenship in Nigeria and Finland, was arrested in November 2024 by the Finnish government. He faces serious allegations related to terrorism, including incitement to violence and financing acts of terror.
Prosecutors accuse Ekpa of leveraging social media platforms to incite violence and promote unrest in Nigeria’s South-East region—a hotspot for pro-Biafra agitation. They argue that his actions fall within the scope of terrorism under Finnish law and are pushing for a six-year prison sentence.
“We have a great deal of evidence regarding this individual’s online activity and communications,” said state prosecutor Sampsa Hakala during the hearing.
Ekpa, however, has denied all charges. During interrogation, he refuted claims of supplying weapons or providing material support to pro-Biafra groups.
Known for his ties to a faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Ekpa has been a vocal advocate for the secession of Nigeria’s South-East a region that still bears the scars of the 1967–1970 civil war. Beyond his activism, Ekpa has also been active in Finnish politics, previously serving as a local representative for the National Coalition Party in Lahti, where he held a role in the city’s public transport committee.
As the trial unfolds, it continues to draw international attention due to its geopolitical implications and the ongoing tensions surrounding the Biafra movement.
