A Finnish court has sentenced pro-Biafra agitator Simon Ekpa to six years in prison on terrorism charges. The Päijät-Häme district court found Ekpa guilty of inciting terrorism and being an influential member of a terrorist group.
The court’s decision, announced on Monday, found that Ekpa used his large social media following to stir up violence in southeastern Nigeria between August 2021 and November 2024.
According to the Finnish newspaper, Yle, the three-member judicial panel stated that Ekpa’s aim was to create a separate Biafran state.
The court also convicted Ekpa of supplying weapons, explosives, and ammunition to various groups in Nigeria through his network.
He was also found guilty of encouraging his online followers to commit crimes in Nigeria and was additionally convicted of aggravated tax fraud and violating the Attorneys Act.
Ekpa, who once claimed to be a follower of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the now-outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was briefly a broadcaster for Radio Biafra.
However, he was later dismissed by IPOB, leading him to form his own separatist group. He has since been known for issuing “sit-at-home” directives in southeastern Nigeria and inciting attacks on security forces, actions that IPOB has consistently disavowed.
Ekpa was arrested in Finland in November 2024. However, the Nigerian Federal Government has expressed its profound gratitude to the Finnish judiciary for its “landmark judgment.”
Also see: El-Rufai Dismisses Peter Obi’s One-Term Presidency Pledge as Unrealistic
In a statement, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, called the ruling a “watershed moment” for the countless Nigerians whose lives and businesses were affected by Ekpa’s actions.
Idris stated that Ekpa’s “reign of terror” caused immense pain, with families shattered and communities living in fear.
The minister described the conviction as a clear signal that the global community will hold individuals accountable for attempts to destabilise societies through violence.
He also reaffirmed the President Bola Tinubu administration’s commitment to protecting Nigeria’s unity and sovereignty through all available resources, including diplomatic, military, and judicial means.
Idris urged those who had been misguided by Ekpa to abandon violence and embrace peace.
The government also extended its appreciation to various Nigerian security and intelligence agencies, whose efforts were crucial in addressing the threats posed by Ekpa and his associates.
The minister concluded by calling on all Nigerians to work together for national unity and security.
