A Finnish court has sentenced Nigerian-born separatist agitator Simon Ekpa to six years in prison after finding him guilty of terrorism-related offences and aggravated tax fraud.
The Päijät-Häme District Court delivered the verdict on Monday, ruling that Ekpa, from his base in Lahti, Finland, used social media platforms between August 2021 and November 2024 to incite violence in southeastern Nigeria. The court also found that he supported armed separatist groups with weapons, ammunition, and explosives.
Ekpa, who leads the self-styled “Biafra Republic Government in Exile,” was also convicted of large-scale tax fraud linked to his personal finances. Prosecutors said his activities amounted to both direct and indirect participation in terrorism, a charge he denied during trial, though he admitted to a lesser tax offence.
The ruling follows his arrest in November 2024 by Finland’s National Bureau of Investigation after sustained pressure from the Nigerian government, which has long accused him of masterminding unrest in the South-East through his calls for “sit-at-home” protests and violent campaigns.
Ekpa first moved to Finland in 2007 as an athlete before venturing into local politics, serving briefly as a councillor in Lahti. In recent years, however, he became a central figure in Biafran separatist agitation, often broadcasting incendiary messages online and declaring himself “Prime Minister” of a government in exile.
The sentence, which can still be appealed, is being closely watched in both Finland and Nigeria. While Finnish prosecutors hailed it as a landmark ruling against online radicalisation and cross-border terrorism, reactions are expected to be sharply divided in Nigeria, where Ekpa commands a loyal following among pro-Biafra sympathisers.
The case underscores growing international cooperation in tackling extremism that transcends borders, with Finland effectively prosecuting crimes whose impact was felt thousands of kilometres away in Nigeria.
