The Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) has called on the country’s judiciary and prosecuting agencies to draw lessons from the recent trial of Simon Ekpa, self-proclaimed prime minister of Biafra, who was convicted of terrorism offences in Finland.

Afam Osigwe, president of the NBA, said the speed with which the Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland heard and decided Ekpa’s case should serve as a benchmark for Nigeria’s justice system, where terrorism-related trials often drag on for years.

Ekpa was sentenced to six years in prison on Monday after being found guilty of promoting terrorist acts and participating in a terrorist organisation. The Finnish court noted that he had exploited his large social media following to fuel unrest in Nigeria’s south-east between August 2021 and November 2024.

Speaking with journalists in Abuja after presenting the communiqué of the NBA’s annual general conference, Osigwe stressed the importance of building strong cases and ensuring trials proceed without unnecessary delays.

“I wish our Nigerian judiciary is watching and taking note; also, our investigating and prosecutorial agencies,” he said. “Investigating a case properly, gathering enough evidence, and building a good case before it reaches court allows the trial to go on seamlessly. Whether acquitted or convicted, the facts will be clear.”

Osigwe added that terrorism cases in Nigeria should follow the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, which allows for day-to-day trials to ensure speedy resolution and reduce backlog.

“For me, that should be the focus of our attention. The time it took for this trial to go on, the way the case was built, and how quickly the court resolved it should be a lesson to us,” he said.

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