Terrorism: Simon Ekpa faces six years in jail

Simon Ekpa, the self-acclaimed prime minister of the Biafra Government in Exile who is currently facing terrorism charges in Finland, risks a six-year jail term as he appeared before the Päijät-Häme District Court on Friday in a preparatory hearing.

Yle, a Finnish news portal, reports that Ekpa, a former Lahti town councillor, is charged with belonging to a terrorist organisation and inciting public violence for terrorist ends.

According to Yle, prosecutors said Ekpa has been actively supporting a separatist movement in Southeast Nigeria that aims to grant independence to the former Biafra territory. They argue that the activity, conducted and coordinated online from Finland, might qualify as terrorism under Finnish law.

“We have a great deal of evidence regarding this individual’s online activity and communications,” said state prosecutor Sampsa Hakala.

Prosecutors want a six-year prison sentence for Ekpa.

Finnish police investigated the case together with Nigerian authorities.

However, at the pre-trial hearing on Friday, Ekpa’s lawyer, Kaarle Gummerus, raised concerns about the reliability of information coming from Nigeria.

Ekpa has denied the charges, ‘which also included suspicions of ordering weapons for pro-Biafra groups. The district court is also examining allegations of aggravated tax fraud.’

Born in Southeast Nigeria, Ekpa relocated to Finland in 2007 as an athlete. He is a member of Finland’s National Coalition Party (NCP).