By Emmanuel Nduka Obisue
The Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland on Monday sentenced Nigerian-born Finnish politician, Simon Ekpa, to six years in prison for terrorism-related offences and other crimes.
According to court documents cited by the BBC, the 40-year-old former municipal councillor from Lahti was convicted on multiple charges, including participation in the activities of a terrorist organisation, incitement to commit crimes for terrorist purposes, aggravated tax fraud, and violations of the Lawyers Act. The court also ordered that he remain in custody.
Between August 2021 and November 2024, Ekpa was found to have sought to promote the independence of the so-called Biafra region in southeastern Nigeria through illegal means. “He used social media to gain a politically influential position and took advantage of the confusion within a key separatist movement in Nigeria to play a significant role in it,” the court stated.
The judgment revealed that Ekpa helped establish and strengthen the separatist movement, working alongside others to organise its structure. Armed groups linked to the movement were later classified by the court as terrorist organisations.
“Ekpa equipped the groups with weapons, explosives and ammunition through his contact network. He also urged and enticed his followers on X (formerly Twitter) to commit crimes in Nigeria,” the ruling added.
Ekpa, however, denied all the charges against him.
The trial, which lasted from May 30 to June 25, 2025, was conducted in 12 sessions, with a panel of three judges delivering a unanimous verdict.
Ekpa was first arrested in December 2024 on suspicion of terrorism offences and inciting crimes with terrorist intent. Finnish authorities said the crimes took place mainly in Lahti. Four other men were initially detained in connection with the case, but charges against them were later dropped for lack of evidence.
Widely known for his controversial role in the Biafran separatist movement, Ekpa’s online broadcasts and social media activities have long divided opinion in Nigeria and abroad.
