He faces charges of “public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent” and “participation in a terrorist group.”
The trial of Nigerian separatist Simon Ekpa has begun in Finland, where prosecutors are seeking a minimum six-year jail sentence over alleged terrorist-related offenses.
Ekpa, who claims to lead the Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE), appeared before the Päijät-Häme district court on May 30, 2025. He faces charges of “public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent” and “participation in a terrorist group,” according to Finnish media outlet Yle.
Prosecutor Sampsa Hakala said, “We have a lot of evidence of this person’s activities on the internet and his communications. So far, it’s a pretty good picture of what we think happened in this matter.”
However, Hakala noted the difficulty in verifying details due to the alleged crimes occurring in Nigeria.
Ekpa’s lawyer, Kaarle Gummerus, questioned the reliability of Nigerian-sourced information and maintained that his client denies all charges.
The prosecution reportedly submitted Ekpa’s social media posts as evidence.
Finnish authorities have also charged Ekpa with aggravated tax fraud and violations of the Attorneys Act. He was arrested in November 2024.