LAHTI, Finland — The trial of Simon Ekpa, a controversial figure linked to Biafra separatist activities in Nigeria, commenced on Friday, May 30, 2025, at the Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland, with prosecutors accusing him of inciting crimes and participating in terrorism from abroad.
Ekpa faces charges of “public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent” and “participation in a terrorist group”, stemming from alleged online activities and communications believed to have influenced unrest in Nigeria’s south-east region. He has denied all charges.
The Finnish news outlet Yle reported that Ekpa appeared in court with his legal counsel, Kaarle Gummerus.
The Finnish state prosecutor, Sampsa Hakala, is seeking a minimum sentence of six years in prison.
“We have a lot of evidence of this person’s activities on the internet and his communications,” Hakala told Yle prior to the court session.
“So far, it’s a pretty good picture of what we think happened in this matter.”
However, Hakala acknowledged difficulties in verifying the details of the alleged crimes, citing the challenges of collecting accurate information from Nigeria.
During the preparatory hearing, Ekpa’s lawyer questioned the reliability of data obtained from Nigerian sources.
Speaking afterward, Gummerus said the trial will determine whether Ekpa’s actions were directly connected to violence in Nigeria or if he had any involvement in acts of terrorism.
“My client denies the terrorism charges,” Gummerus said, adding that the legal proceedings are expected to test the credibility and admissibility of foreign-sourced evidence.
Prosecutors reportedly submitted a post from Ekpa’s X (formerly Twitter) account as part of their evidence during the main hearing.
In addition to the terrorism-related accusations, Finnish authorities have filed separate charges against Ekpa for “aggravated tax fraud” and violations of the Attorneys Act.
The timing of the trial has also drawn criticism.
On Monday, May 26, 2025, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) condemned the Finnish authorities for scheduling the trial on Friday, May 30, 2025, a date observed by Biafra separatists to honour those killed during the Nigerian Civil War.
In a statement, IPOB reiterated that Simon Ekpa is not a member of the group and has been publicly disowned by its detained leader, Nnamdi Kanu.
Ekpa, a Nigerian-Finnish lawyer and social media figure, has been accused by Nigerian authorities and security analysts of fuelling violence through his frequent calls for civil disobedience and sit-at-home orders in the country’s south-east region.
