PAIJAT-HAME, Finland – Simon Ekpa, the controversial Biafra separatist and self-proclaimed leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has appointed a new legal representative as he prepares for his trial in Finland, scheduled for June 2025.
Ekpa, who was arrested in November 2024 in Finland for allegedly spreading terrorist propaganda on social media, will face charges related to his activities that are believed to have incited violence and terror in southeastern Nigeria.
The charges stem from his actions in 2021, when he is accused of using his social media platforms to instigate unrest in the region.
Following his arrest, Ekpa was detained by the district court of Päijät-Häme and sent to prison, where he has remained pending his trial.
The Finnish authorities have been handling Ekpa’s case closely.
In March, the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) senior detective superintendent Mikko Laaksonen disclosed that charges against Ekpa would be formally filed by May 2025.
Ekpa’s case has attracted significant attention due to his alleged role in the ongoing conflict in Nigeria’s southeast, where IPOB and its activities have sparked violent unrest.
Nigerian authorities have been actively seeking Ekpa’s extradition for prosecution in Nigeria, though their efforts have so far not been successful.
In the wake of his legal team’s changes, Ekpa has appointed a new lawyer, Kaarle Gummerus, after his previous counsel retired from service.
Gummerus confirmed that he had received Ekpa’s pre-trial file and is currently reviewing it in preparation for the upcoming trial.
He stated that Ekpa will appear in court in June 2025 to face the charges brought against him.
The case is expected to have significant political and legal ramifications, particularly considering the tensions between Nigeria and Finland regarding the handling of Ekpa’s extradition request.
Furthermore, in March 2025, Ekpa was among those sanctioned by Nigeria’s National Sanctions Committee for alleged involvement in financing terrorism, further complicating his legal and diplomatic situation.
