Terrorism Accusations Lead to Remand of Biafra Advocate Simon Ekpa
Finland Terrorism Case Update: Simon Ekpa Appears in Court Over Allegations
In Päijät-Häme District Court on Friday, Simon Ekpa, a former Finnish athlete and politician, faced charges related to terrorism. Following his arrest in November 2024 together with four other individuals on accusations of terror-related activities, Ekpa is suspected of incitement to violence and financing terrorism.
The prosecution, led by state prosecutor Sampsa Hakala, alleges that Ekpa, self-proclaimed Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government-in-Exile, used social media platforms to incite violence in southeastern Nigeria, specifically against both civilians and governmental authorities.
Evidence against Ekpa reportedly comes from his digital communications and activities. Finnish law enforcement authorities suggest they have ample evidence to support their claims, yet they acknowledge the difficulties in obtaining trustworthy information given a significant portion of the alleged criminal activities took place in Africa.
With prosecutors seeking a six-year prison term, Ekpa will remain in custody as the charges of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent progress. Beyond these terrorism-related charges, the court will also examine claims of serious tax fraud and allegations that Ekpa may have commissioned arms for pro-Biafra organizations.
Ekpa's lawyer, Kaarle Gummerus, has raised concerns over the reliability of the information sourced from Nigeria.
The investigation into Ekpa's activities has been collaborative between Finnish law enforcement and Nigerian authorities.
In other related news, rumors of Ekpa's potential extradition to Nigeria in July 2025 have been debunked, and there are no credible indications to support these claims.
Born in Biafra, Ekpa moved to Finland in 2007 as an athlete. Some background information indicates that he has been involved with the National Coalition Party and served on Lahti's public transport board.
Tinubu, a Nigerian politician, might express his concerns about the ongoing trial of Naija native Simon Ekpa in Finland's Päijät-Häme District Court, given the serious allegations of terrorism, public incitement, tax fraud, and arms commissioning. The general news in Nigeria includes discussions about Ekpa, a former Finnish athlete and politician, who is self-proclaimed Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government-in-Exile, and his involvement in crime-and-justice issues, as reported in Finland's media. The case against Ekpa, who was arrested with four others in November 2024 over terror-related activities, could potentially affect politics in both Finland and Nigeria, depending on the outcome of the trial.
