Simon Ekpa, a prominent pro-Biafran agitator, is set to face trial in Finland in May 2025 on charges related to terrorism.
Ekpa, who is accused of inciting violence and financing terrorism, was arrested by Finnish authorities alongside four others last week.
They are suspected of using social media platforms to promote terrorist activities, including encouraging violence in Nigeria’s South-East region, particularly against civilians and government authorities.
Mikko Laaksonen, a senior detective at Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), confirmed that the Päijät-Häme District Court had set a deadline of May 2025 for prosecutors to formalize charges against Ekpa.
Laaksonen added that the investigation was ongoing, and more information would be disclosed later.
Additionally, he noted that Ekpa and the Finnish authorities could request a re-evaluation of the case within two weeks of the last hearing.
Ekpa, who holds Finnish citizenship and is originally from Nigeria, has become a controversial figure in the Biafra independence movement.
He has been involved in promoting violent rhetoric and organizing disruptive actions, including the boycott of Nigeria’s 2023 elections, which led to violence and economic hardship in the South-East.
Ekpa’s actions, including sit-at-home orders imposed on residents of the region, have been linked to widespread insecurity and significant economic losses in the area, with reports estimating a ₦4 trillion loss over the past two years.
The Finnish authorities have been working with international partners in their investigation, though they have not disclosed the specifics of the collaboration.
The case has drawn significant attention both in Finland and internationally, with the Nigerian government expressing its concern over Ekpa’s activities.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Nigeria has said it will closely monitor the legal proceedings, as it views Ekpa’s arrest as a critical step in addressing the threats posed by the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) and transnational actors influencing Nigeria’s security.
In Nigeria, political figures have also reacted to Ekpa’s arrest. Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe of Abia South welcomed the arrest, calling it an important move to curtail violence in the South-East.
Abaribe criticized Ekpa’s exploitation of the Biafran cause, stating that the original intent of IPOB was a non-violent referendum, which had been hijacked by criminals.
Meanwhile, IPOB’s legal counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, has sought to calm tensions regarding rumors of a Biafran declaration on December 2, 2024.
He reassured the public that no such event would take place and encouraged those still supporting Ekpa’s calls for violence to reconsider their actions.
Ejiofor emphasized that true freedom for the people of the South-East could only be achieved through peaceful and lawful means, rejecting violence and criminality.
