The Traffic

BREAKING: Finnish Court Sets Trial Date for Pro-Biafra Agitator Simon Ekpa in May 2025

By Achimi Muktar

In a dramatic twist to the case of Simon Ekpa, the pro-Biafra agitator arrested in Finland, the Finnish District Court has announced that formal charges against him will be filed in May 2025. Ekpa, a dual citizen of Finland and Nigeria, has been at the center of controversy following his arrest last Thursday for allegedly spreading terrorist propaganda on social media.

The Finnish authorities arrested Ekpa in the northern European nation and placed him under remand at the Päijät-Häme district court, where the charges against him were brought forward. Ekpa stands accused of inciting violence and spreading terror in southeastern Nigeria through his social media activities back in 2021, specifically in the Lahti municipality.

The case has sparked international attention, with Nigerian authorities demanding Ekpa’s extradition to face prosecution at home. The charges are linked to his involvement in separatist activities and his online calls for unrest, which have led to accusations of destabilizing the peace in Nigeria’s volatile southeast region.

Mikko Laaksonen, Senior Detective Superintendent at Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation (NBI), confirmed that investigations into Ekpa’s actions are still ongoing. In a statement sent to Punch, Laaksonen explained that no further details could be disclosed due to the ongoing nature of the case, but reassured that a possible re-evaluation hearing could take place in the next two weeks.

"The date for bringing up possible charges by the prosecution was set by the district court to May 2025," Laaksonen stated. "Due to the ongoing investigation, no further details can be disclosed at this stage."

The decision to set the trial for May 2025 marks a significant milestone in the case, but it also underscores the length and complexity of the legal process surrounding international cases involving terrorism and propaganda. As the case unfolds, many are waiting to see whether Ekpa will face extradition to Nigeria, where he is wanted for his alleged role in inciting violence and separatism.

For now, Simon Ekpa remains behind bars in Finland, awaiting the next steps in a case that is bound to have significant political and legal implications on both sides of the globe.