Pro-Biafran agitator, Simon Ekpa, who was arrested in Finland for terrorism-related activities, will remain in Finnish prison until May 2025 before he will be paraded before the court to face trial. A Senior Detective Superintendent at Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation, Mikko Laaksonen, disclosed this to The PUNCH via email on Tuesday that the district court had set May 2025 as the deadline for Ekpa’s prosecution.
Recall Ekpa was arrested last week by the Finnish authority through a raid alongside four others on suspicion of terror-related activities, including incitement to violence and terrorism financing.
Finnish police confirmed that Ekpa, who described as Nnamdi Kanu disciple and self-proclaimed Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government-in-Exile, has been using social media to promote violence in the South-East region, Nigeria killing innocent civilians and authorities alike.
According to local publication Yle, Ekpa was remanded in custody by the Päijät-Häme District Court on charges of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent.
The publication also reported that the Finnish Central Criminal Police had confirmed the arrests in a statement last week, adding that other suspects too were apprehended for allegedly financing terrorist activities in collaboration with Ekpa.
Meanwhile, the Finnish Authorities revealed that Ekpa is currently under investigation and would be paraded before the court as soon as the investigation is concluded.
When asked on the possible date for prosecuting Ekpa, Laaksonen said, “The date for bringing up possible charges by the prosecution was set by the district court to May 2025.”
He noted that Ekpa and the Finnish authorities may request a re-evaluation after two weeks.
“In a basic situation regarding the remand, the next possible hearing can be held no earlier than two weeks from the previous hearing, should the parties in question seek for the matter to be re-evaluated by the district court,” Laaksonen explained.
Ekpas arrest has sparked a wild jubilation especially in the southeast part of Nigeria where they were experiencing his attacks, with Finnish authorities confirming that cross-border cooperation is integral to the investigation.
“International cooperation is part of the investigation due to the nature of the case but no further comments can be given on the subject at this point,” the NBI stated.
Ekpa become notorious when he started his calls to boycott Nigeria’s 2023 general elections, which led to violent enforcement measures and attacks on residents in the region.
He was first arrested in February 2023 for inciting violence and issuing sit-at-home orders to Igbos and other South-East residents.
His activities prompted global petitions from Nigerians urging the Finnish and Nigerian governments, as well as the European Union, to take action before he becomes a global terrorist kingpin.
In a swift response, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Finnish Ambassador to Nigeria, Leena Pylvanainen, to demand Finland’s cooperation in addressing the threats posed by Ekpa to Nigeria.
Last Thursday, the District Court of Päijät-Häme, Finland, ordered that Ekpa be imprisoned “with probable cause on suspicion of public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent.”
Reacting to the action of the Finish government, the Ohanaeze Ndibo, a socio-cultural body of Ndibo in Nigeria has applauded Ekpa arrest, saying their people will have peace at last.
Meanwhile, the Ohanaeze has urged Nigerian government to join forces with Finnish counterpart and ensure that Ekpa is prosecuted to a logical conclusion; however, they are calling on federal government to review Nnamdi Kanu case.