The Federal Authorities of Nigeria has hailed the conviction and sentencing of Simon Ekpa, a Finland-based Biafra separatist agitator, describing it as a “main victory” in Nigeria’s combat towards terrorism.
The Minister of Data and Nationwide Orientation, Mohammed Idris, reacted to the event after a Finnish court docket on Monday sentenced Ekpa to 6 years imprisonment for terrorism-related offences and different prices.
“We welcome the information of Simon Ekpa’s conviction by a Finnish court docket for terrorism-related crimes and his sentencing to 6 years in jail. A significant victory for the Nigerian individuals within the collective combat towards terror,” Idris wrote on his official X deal with a second later.
Ekpa, a long-term resident of Lahti and a one-time native councillor, was discovered responsible by the Päijät-Häme District Court docket of collaborating within the actions of a terrorist group, inciting the general public to commit crimes for terrorist functions, aggravated tax fraud, and violating Finland’s Legal professionals Act.
In response to Finnish newspaper Yle, the court docket dominated that Ekpa was an influential member of a militant separatist motion pushing for the secession of a Biafran state from Nigeria. The three-member panel of judges unanimously held that he provided separatist {groups} with “weapons, explosives, and ammunition” and inspired his followers on X (previously Twitter) to commit crimes in Nigeria.
The trial ran from Could 30 to June 25, 2025, with 12 days of hearings earlier than the decision was delivered. The court docket ordered that Ekpa stay in custody.
Recall that Ekpa, who denied all the fees, was arrested in December 2024 after Finnish authorities accused him of inciting violence and spreading separatist propaganda by social media.
