Finnish Court Sets May 2025 Trial Date for Simon Ekpa

Pro-Biafran separatist leader Simon Ekpa is scheduled to stand trial in Finland by May 2025, Finnish authorities have confirmed. Ekpa, arrested alongside four others on suspicion of terrorism-related activities, remains in custody at the Päijät-Häme District Court. Mikko Laaksonen, Senior Detective Superintendent at Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation, confirmed the trial timeline, stating that the district court set May 2025 for the prosecution to bring forward possible charges. He also noted that both Ekpa and Finnish authorities could request a review of the case in two weeks if needed. A Finnish citizen of Nigerian descent, Ekpa faces serious charges, including incitement to violence, financing terrorism, and public calls for criminal acts with terrorist intent. Finnish police allege that Ekpa used social media to incite violence in Nigeria’s South-East, targeting both civilians and authorities. His activities are believed to have contributed to over ₦4 trillion in economic losses due to enforced sit-at-home orders and the rising insecurity in the region. The arrests were part of a broader investigation that required international cooperation, though Finnish authorities have not provided further details on cross-border efforts. Ekpa, who calls himself the “Prime Minister” of the Biafra Republic Government-in-Exile, gained notoriety for urging a boycott of Nigeria’s 2023 general elections, a move that led to violence and unrest. Finnish Central Criminal Police have linked him to coordinated attacks on civilians and security forces in Nigeria since 2021, with social media playing a central role in his incitement and fundraising activities. His arrest has been hailed as a significant step toward addressing the violence in Nigeria’s South-East. The Nigerian government has expressed its intent to closely monitor the trial proceedings. Kimiebi Ebienfa, spokesperson for Nigeria’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, called the arrest “a critical step in addressing IPOB’s activities and reducing the influence of transnational actors on our national security.” Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe of Abia South also welcomed the arrest, criticizing Ekpa’s tactics and emphasizing that Ekpa had exploited the Biafran cause to incite violence.