Finnish prosecutors seek six years jail term for Simon Ekpa

• Finnish prosecutors are seeking a six-year situation condemnation for pro-Biafra separatist Simon Ekpa implicit coercion and incitement charges
• Authorities accidental Ekpa utilized societal media to beforehand unit successful Nigeria’s South-East, and he's besides facing allegations of taxation fraud and arms dealings
• Ekpa, done his lawyer, has denied each charges, questioning the credibility of grounds sourced from Nigerian authorities

Prosecutors successful Finland are seeking a six-year situation condemnation for Simon Ekpa, a pro-Biafran separatist facing terrorism-related charges.

Ekpa, a arguable fig known for his beardown secessionist rhetoric, appeared earlier the Päijät-Häme District Court connected Friday for a preliminary proceeding arsenic portion of an ongoing transgression trial.

Simon Ekpa faces six years successful jailhouse arsenic prosecutors informed tribunal of superior integer evidence. Photo: X/Simon Ekpa
Source: Twitter

Prosecutor unearths caller grounds successful Ekpa's case

According to Finnish broadcaster Yle, the lawsuit is being spearheaded by authorities authoritative Sampsa Hakala, who told the tribunal that authorities had amassed a important measurement of integer grounds linking Ekpa to online communications and activities that whitethorn represent transgression conduct.

“We person a large woody of grounds regarding this individual’s online enactment and communications,” Hakala said.

Despite this, the prosecution acknowledged the trouble successful obtaining reliable information, particularly since galore of the alleged crimes were committed successful Africa, peculiarly Nigeria.

Ekpa, a dual national of Nigeria and Finland, has consistently denied the allegations done his ineligible counsel, Kaarle Gummerus.

His defence squad questioned the reliability of grounds sourced from Nigerian authorities, raising concerns astir credibility and owed process.

Ekpa being investigated connected taxation fraud

Beyond terrorism-related accusations, the tribunal is besides examining claims of aggravated taxation fraud and suspicions that Ekpa whitethorn person attempted to procure weapons for pro-Biafra groups.

Simon Ekpa is being investigated for different misdemeanours similar taxation fraud. Photo: X/Simon Ekpa
Source: Twitter

Investigators judge these activities could beryllium linked to a broader run of incitement and unit successful Nigeria’s South-East, wherever separatist unrest has been connected the rise.

Finnish authorities arrested Ekpa successful November 2024, alongside 4 others, pursuing a coordinated probe into coercion financing and incitement to violence.

The apprehension was made nationalist soon aft reports of Ekpa’s online broadcasts calling for civilian disobedience and attacks against some civilians and authorities institutions successful Nigeria.

Ekpa's lawsuit intimately followed by Nigerian authorities

Ekpa, who refers to himself arsenic the Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government-in-Exile, has drawn attraction for utilizing societal media platforms to beforehand the separatist cause.

Finnish police, moving successful collaboration with Nigerian information agencies, allege that his online posts whitethorn person contributed to escalating unit successful the region.

The tribunal has remanded Ekpa successful custody connected charges of nationalist incitement to perpetrate crimes with violent intent.

The result of the proceedings could person far-reaching implications, some for diaspora-based activists progressive successful homeland conflicts and for planetary ineligible practice successful coercion cases.

The adjacent signifier of the proceedings is expected to impact deeper reappraisal of the grounds and witnesser testimonies. If convicted, Ekpa could look a condemnation of up to six years down bars nether Finnish law.

Court begins trial-within-trial connected separatist's case

Earlier, Legit.ng reported that the Federal Government's coercion lawsuit against Nnamdi Kanu, person of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), precocious further connected Wednesday arsenic a 3rd prosecution witnesser testified that Kanu admitted to smuggling a Biafra Radio transmitter into Nigeria.

The witness, identified lone arsenic CCC for information reasons, is simply a Department of State Services (DSS) operative and gave his grounds earlier Justice James Omotosho of the Federal High Court, Abuja.

PAY ATTENTION: Сheck retired quality that is picked exactly for YOU ➡️ find the “Recommended for you” artifact connected the location leafage and enjoy!

Source: Legit.ng