- Kanu’s Release, Ekpa’s Trial Will Restore Peace In Southeast- Expert
The trial of Simon Ekpa in his terrorism charge will begin in May of 2025, a Finnish District Court has disclosed.
The Matrix reports that the pro-Biafra agitator was arrested by law enforcement in the northern European nation last week Thursday, November 21, 2024.
He was subsequently sent to prison by the district court of Päijät-Häme for “spreading terrorist propaganda on social media”.
Ekpa was said to have committed the crime in 2021 in Lahti municipality.
He is accused of instigating violence and inciting terror in the south-east of Nigeria through his social media pages.
Nigerian authorities have been demanding the extradition of Ekpa, a dual citizen of Finland and Nigeria, for prosecution.
In an email sent to Punch, Mikko Laaksonen, the senior detective superintendent at the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Finland, said investigations into Ekpa’s activities are ongoing.
Laaksonen said the next hearing on the remand can be held in the next two weeks if Finnish authorities or Ekpa seek re-evaluation from the court.
“Due to the ongoing investigation, no further details can be disclosed,” the superintendent said.
“The date for bringing up possible charges by the prosecution was set by the district court to May 2025.
“In a basic situation regarding the remand, the next possible hearing can be held no earlier than two weeks from the previous hearing, should the parties in question seek for the matter to be re-evaluated by the district court.”
Meanwhile, stakeholders in the South-East region have called for the prosecution of Ekpa and the release of Nnamdi Kanu.
READ ALSO: Simon Ekpa’s Arrest, FG Opens Up
A retired captain of the United States, US, Army, National Defence and Military Strategist, Bishop Johnson said the proper handling of Ekpa’s arrest by the Finnish government might have an impact on his incitement of violence and bloodletting in the Southeast.
Ambrose said those funding Ekpa’s operations in the Southeast will also stop if he’s held accountable in Finland.
He maintained that the combination of Kanu’s release and Ekpa’s arrest would go a long way in restoring peace in the Southeast.
READ ALSO: Simon Ekpa Arrested In Finland Over Terrorism Allegations
“I think a combination of both would work because if Ekpa is held accountable for all the incitement in Finland that he created, which led to loss of lives in the Southeast and Kanu is released, then peace can be restored.
“Most of the time, these people that perpetrate criminal activities in the Southeast, not all of them are real agitators, there are criminals who have capitalized on Kanu’s incarceration and absence to commit all sorts of criminal activities.
“So, if Kanu is freed we would have denied those people the excuse they used in committing crimes.
“With Kanu’s release, we will be able to separate the real agitators for self-determination from the criminal elements that have used the opportunity for their selfish interests,” he said.
