The Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland has sentenced Nigerian-Finnish lawyer and separatist agitator Simon Ekpa to six years in prison on charges of terrorism, marking a major development in the international response to separatist activities linked to Nigeria.
Njenje Media News can confirm that the court found Ekpa guilty of inciting terrorism, promoting Biafra independence through unlawful means between 2021 and 2024, aggravated tax fraud, and violations of Finland’s Lawyers Act.
The ruling followed months of proceedings in which Finnish prosecutors argued that Ekpa used his online platforms to instigate violence and insecurity in Nigeria’s South-East region.
Evidence presented in court reportedly included communications, online broadcasts, and directives that prosecutors said were designed to mobilise armed supporters. Finnish authorities had earlier frozen his assets and detained him at Kylmäkoski Prison during the trial, which drew significant attention both in Europe and Nigeria.
Ekpa, who identifies as the Prime Minister of a self-declared Biafra government-in-exile, has long been a controversial figure. He rose to prominence after taking over the broadcasting platform of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) in 2021 and has since been accused by Nigerian authorities of fuelling violence in the South-East through calls for sit-at-home orders and armed resistance.
Throughout the trial, Ekpa denied wrongdoing, with his lawyers questioning the reliability of evidence obtained from Nigerian sources. They argued that his activities amounted to political expression and advocacy rather than terrorism. The court, however, dismissed these arguments, ruling that his actions went beyond free speech and had tangible links to violent outcomes.
The sentencing has triggered widespread reactions in Nigeria. Supporters of Ekpa have condemned the judgment as politically motivated, while critics and government officials view it as a long-overdue step towards accountability for cross-border incitement.
Legal analysts say the ruling underscores how European courts can hold individuals accountable for actions with international consequences, even when those actions primarily affect other nations. Ekpa is expected to appeal the judgment.
