Finland Opens Terrorism Trial Against Simon Ekpa
Nigerian separatist leader Simon Ekpa appeared before the Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland on Friday, May 30, as Finnish authorities officially began his terrorism trial.
Ekpa, a dual Finnish-Nigerian citizen, is facing serious charges related to inciting violence and allegedly financing terrorism, linked to his ongoing agitation for the creation of an independent Biafran state in southeastern Nigeria.
His arrest in November 2024 followed months of investigation, with prosecutors accusing him of using social media platforms to promote violence and instability in Nigeria’s South-East region.
Finnish authorities claim Ekpa’s online activities—including inflammatory broadcasts and alleged coordination with armed groups—may meet the threshold for terrorism under national law.
“We have substantial evidence detailing the defendant’s online conduct and communications,” said state prosecutor Sampsa Hakala. Prosecutors are seeking a six-year prison sentence.
Ekpa has denied the charges, including accusations that he ordered weapons or directly supported armed groups.
During interrogations, he insisted that he never called for violence and claimed his actions were rooted in free expression and political activism.
Ekpa is widely known as a leading voice in a faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a banned separatist organization in Nigeria.
His role in pushing for Biafran independence has been linked to heightened tensions and unrest in the region.
Despite his activism, he has also held a political role in Finland, having served on Lahti’s public transport committee under the conservative National Coalition Party.
His trial is being closely watched in both Finland and Nigeria, as it raises significant questions about international accountability in cases involving transnational political agitation and alleged online radicalization.
Finland Opens Terrorism Trial Against Simon Ekpa