A Finnish court has opened the terrorism trial of Simon Ekpa, a Nigerian-born municipal politician, over allegations that he encouraged violence linked to the Biafran separatist movement in southeastern Nigeria.
The trial, which began on Friday at the Päijät-Häme District Court in Lahti, is the first of its kind in Finland involving terrorism-related charges of this nature. Prosecutors are calling for a minimum sentence of six years in prison.
Ekpa, who moved to Finland in 2007 and has been active in local politics, faces multiple charges including participating in a terrorist group and inciting crimes for terrorist purposes. He has denied all charges.
According to Finnish state prosecutor Sampsa Hakala, Ekpa used his online platforms and public statements to promote violence in Nigeria’s Biafra region. Prosecutors allege that he aimed to spread fear and pressure the Nigerian government to pull out security forces from the area.
“We have a lot of evidence of this person’s activities online and his communications,” Hakala told Finnish broadcaster Yle before the court session.
The prosecution also claimed that Ekpa, while living in Finland, coordinated support for armed groups in Nigeria and was involved in the supply of weapons. Several alternative legal charges were filed under Finland’s anti-terrorism laws.
Ekpa’s defence lawyer, Kaarle Gummerus, said the case hinges on whether there is any clear link between Ekpa and actual acts of violence in Nigeria. He also questioned the reliability of reports coming from Nigeria.
“The key issue is whether my client had any involvement or gave any orders related to the events in the Biafra region,” Gummerus said.
The court heard a preliminary session in the morning, followed by the presentation of evidence in the afternoon. Prosecutors presented social media posts allegedly made by Ekpa on the platform X (formerly Twitter), which they claim encouraged attacks.
The court has set aside several days for the main hearings.
In addition to the terrorism-related charges, Ekpa is also facing separate accusations of aggravated tax fraud and violations of Finland’s Attorneys Act. Those charges will be addressed later in the year.
Ekpa, a former athlete, is a member of Finland’s National Coalition Party and has served on Lahti’s public transport board. The outcome of his trial is expected to set a significant legal precedent in Finland and may influence how countries handle cross-border incitement and online terrorism.