Finland Begins Terrorism Trial of Nigerian Separatist Leader Simon Ekpa

Simon Ekpa, a Nigerian separatist leader and dual citizen of Finland and Nigeria, appeared before the Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland on Friday, May 30, as authorities launched a terrorism trial against him.

Ekpa was arrested in November 2024 by Finnish authorities on suspicion of engaging in terrorism-related activities. The charges include incitement to violence and financing terrorism, with prosecutors alleging that his actions—primarily conducted online—sparked unrest in Nigeria’s South-east region as part of his campaign for the secession of Biafra.

According to state prosecutor Sampsa Hakala, the government has compiled substantial evidence of Ekpa’s digital communications and online behavior. Prosecutors are seeking a six-year prison sentence, asserting that his conduct may fall within the scope of terrorism under Finnish law.

Ekpa has denied all allegations, including claims that he ordered weapons for pro-Biafra groups. He is known for his association with a faction of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a separatist movement pushing for the independence of Nigeria’s southeastern region—a region that endured a brutal civil war from 1967 to 1970.

In addition to his activities related to Biafra, Ekpa previously held a role in Finland’s conservative National Coalition Party in Lahti, where he served on the city’s public transport committee.