The self-acclaimed Prime Minister of Biafra Republic in Exile, Simon Ekpa, on Friday, May 30, 2025, appeared before the Paijat Hame District court in Finland facing terrorism-related charges.
The embattled Ekpa is being charged with offences considered contrary to the Criminal Code of Finland which include; Unlawful threat; Aggravated invasion of Public Premises, which attracts imprisonment for at least four months and at most three years.
Similarly, the Section 1 (2) indicated that Ekpa is charged for Public incitement to commit offence which attracts imprisonment for at least four months and at most four years.
In the same vein, Section 1 (5) of the charge sheet indicated that Ekpa is also charged with Aggravated assault and Taking of a hostage which attract imprisonment for at least two years and at most twelve years.
In the Section 2 (1) of the case, Ekpa is facing; “Preparation of an offence to be committed with terrorist intent; Agrees with another or prepares a plan to commit an offence” which attracts imprisonment for at most 3 years or payment of a fine.
Similarly, Section 3(1), showed that the self acclaimed Prime Minister of Biafra Republic is also facing a charge of “Directing a terrorist group” which attracts imprisonment for at least two years and at most twelve years.
This is as Section 5(1)(2) of the charges indicated that Ekpa is also facing “financing of Terrorism: Funding in order to finance an offence of general endangerment” which attracts imprisonment for at least four months and at most eight years.
In the same vein, Section 5(5) of the charges showed that Ekpa is also facing; “Murder, Homicide killing deprivation of liberty and disturbance of public peace while Section 4a: indicated; “Provision of training for the purpose of committing a terrorist offence just as Section 4c of the charges showed that Ekpa is accused of “Recruitment for the purpose of committing a crime”.
Authorities confirmed that, during the pre-trial hearing, the prosecution argued that the activity conducted online and coordinated from Finland may constitute terrorism under Finnish law.
This was as prosecutors alleged that Simon Ekpa has been actively involved in a separatist movement seeking independence for the Biafra region in Southeastern Nigeria.
The State Prosecutor, Sampsa Hakala said; “We have a great deal of evidence regarding this individual’s online activity and communications”.
At the pre-trial hearing on Friday, Ekpa’s lawyer, Kaarle Gummerus, raised concerns about the reliability of the information coming from Nigeria, in spite of the fact that terrorism is an international crime covered by United Nations convention and resolutions.
As a result, the Finnish police jointly investigated the case with Nigerian authorities.
Gummerus defence which he premised on the understanding that Ekpa is only a content creator, however evaporated when he was faced with evidence of colossal loss of lives and properties running into billions of naira in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, Ekpa’s arrest, investigation, and trial have made his erstwhile supporters and donors realise that they were misled into supporting a criminal enterprise as most of them have decided to channel their donations into genuine and honest philanthropy, thereby cutting off the Indigenous People of Biafra’s major funding channel.
This was as a security source, said that the new understanding has gone a long way in restoring ample serenity in the South-East.
