More than 30 supporters attend Simon Ekpa terrorism appeal

More than 30 supporters of Simon Ekpa attended his terrorism appeal at the Päijät-Häme courthouse in Lahti on Monday, Yle reported. Some were unable to enter the courtroom because it had only 25 seats.

Ekpa is appealing a Päijät-Häme District Court ruling that sentenced him to six years in prison for terrorism offences. The prosecution is seeking a harsher sentence than the one imposed by the district court last autumn.

Dominica Olewunne travelled from the United Kingdom to attend the hearing. She said Ekpa was not a terrorist but was fighting on behalf of Biafrans, who seek an independent state in southeastern Nigeria.

“Biafra from all over the world is here supporting Ekpa. We want him to win, because the whole country is in turmoil. He must win because he stands on the side of truth,” Olewunne said.

According to the prosecution, Ekpa caused serious harm to the Federal Republic of Nigeria through online posts made from Finland. The prosecution says he encouraged or enticed people to commit crimes and endangered public order and security in Nigeria.

Ekpa was elected prime minister of the Biafran government in exile in 2023. He has said the organisation’s goal was to pursue Biafra’s independence through diplomatic and political means rather than violence.

The Court of Appeal will consider the case over three weeks. On Monday, it heard Ekpa and defence witnesses, while the defence reviewed evidence intended to show that the organisation he led had no connections to terrorism. The hearing continues this week, and the court is expected to issue its decision during the autumn.