Pro-Biafra separatist leader Simon Ekpa appeared before the Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland on Friday for a preparatory hearing on terrorism-related charges, as the Finnish government intensifies its crackdown on alleged foreign-linked extremist activities.
According to Finnish public broadcaster, Yle, Ekpa, a Nigerian-born Finnish citizen, is facing multiple charges including public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent, terrorism financing, and incitement to violence. The charges stem from his online activities promoting violence in Nigeria’s South-East region under the banner of the Biafra Republic Government-in-Exile, where he claims the title of “Prime Minister.”
Ekpa was arrested in November 2024 along with four others in a coordinated Finnish police operation. The authorities have accused him of using social media platforms to incite unrest and encourage attacks against both civilians and law enforcement in Nigeria.
State prosecutor, Sampsa Hakal,a told the court that the prosecution is seeking a six-year prison sentence, citing “a great deal of evidence” from Ekpa’s digital communications, including videos, messages, and financial transactions allegedly linked to extremist groups.
“We have a great deal of evidence regarding this individual’s online activity and communications,” Hakala said, while also acknowledging the difficulty of verifying intelligence sourced from outside Finland. “Many of the suspected crimes occurred in Africa, which presents challenges in information gathering.”
The case is the result of a joint investigation between Finnish authorities and the Nigerian government. Nigerian officials have long accused Ekpa of being a major instigator of violent sit-at-home orders and separatist agitations that have disrupted economic and social life in Nigeria’s South-East since 2021.
In addition to terrorism-related offenses, the Finnish court is also reviewing charges of aggravated tax fraud and suspicions that Ekpa may have attempted to procure weapons for pro-Biafran groups operating outside Finnish jurisdiction.
Ekpa has denied all allegations. His lawyer, Kaarle Gummerus, challenged the reliability of evidence sourced from Nigerian authorities and urged the court to approach the case with caution.
“The credibility of some of the intelligence presented by the prosecution is questionable, particularly that which originates from politically volatile sources,” Gummerus told the court.
Ekpa remains in custody as the legal proceedings continue.
