Simon Ekpa Appoints New Lawyer Ahead of Terrorism Trial in Finland

Simon Ekpa, a prominent Biafra separatist figure, has appointed a new lawyer as he prepares for his terrorism-related trial in Finland, scheduled for June 2025. The legal shake-up comes after his previous attorney retired from service. Ekpa’s new counsel, Kaarle Gummerus, confirmed he has received the case file and is currently reviewing it in preparation for the court proceedings.

Ekpa, a dual citizen of Finland and Nigeria, was arrested in November 2024 by Finnish law enforcement. The district court of Päijät-Häme subsequently ordered his detention over allegations of spreading terrorist propaganda on social media, reportedly committed in Lahti in 2021. Authorities accuse him of inciting violence in southeastern Nigeria through online platforms while claiming leadership of the banned Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

Despite demands from Nigerian authorities for his extradition, no conclusive agreement has been reached. Finnish authorities, including Mikko Laaksonen of the National Bureau of Investigation, have indicated that Ekpa will remain in custody until trial, as the alleged offence is non-bailable. In March 2025, Nigeria’s sanctions committee designated Ekpa and 16 associated entities as terrorism financiers and ordered the freezing of their bank accounts.