Mikko Laaksonen, a Senior Detective Superintendent at Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation, confirmed in an email to The PUNCH newspaper on Tuesday that the district court had set May 2025 as the deadline for prosecutors to file potential charges against Simon Ekpa.
Laaksonen said: “The date for bringing up possible charges by the prosecution was set by the district court to May 2025.”
He noted that Ekpa and the Finnish authorities may request a re-evaluation after two weeks.
“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,” Laaksonen explained.
“International cooperation is part of the investigation due to the nature of the case but no further comments can be given on the subject at this point,” the NBI stated.
In response to inquiries from The PUNCH, Detective Laaksonen provided an update, he also that the investigation is still ongoing and that no additional details can be shared at this time.
Ekpa was arrested in Finland last week alongside four others on suspicion of terror-related activities, including incitement to violence and terrorism financing.
A key aspect of the case is his use of social media for incitement and fundraising.
Ekpa, a Finnish citizen of Nigerian descent, was accused of inciting crimes with terrorist intent, while the other suspects are charged with financing terrorism.
The Federal Government has said it would monitor the legal proceedings in Finland.
