6 years in prison? – Finnish court jails Nigerian-born politician Simon Ekpa for terrorism offences

The Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland has sentenced Simon Ekpa, a Nigerian-born Finnish citizen, to six years in prison for terrorism-related offences and other crimes.

Ekpa, 40, a former municipal politician in Lahti, was convicted on Monday 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, according to official court documents cited by BBC News Pidgin.

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The court ordered that Ekpa remain in custody.

Court Findings

According to the judgment, between August 2021 and November 2024, Ekpa sought to promote the independence of the so-called Biafra region in southeastern Nigeria through unlawful 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 said in a statement.

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The ruling also found that Ekpa helped organise separatist groups into a structured movement, providing them with weapons, explosives, and ammunition through his contact network. He also allegedly used X (formerly Twitter) to incite his followers to commit crimes in Nigeria.

Trial and Arrest

The trial, which spanned 12 sessions between May 30 and June 25, 2025, ended with a unanimous verdict from a panel of three judges.

Finnish authorities had arrested Ekpa in December 2024 on charges linked to terrorism. He was held on suspicion of publicly inciting people to commit crimes with terrorist intent.

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While four other men were initially arrested in connection with the case, charges against them were later dropped due to insufficient evidence.

Denial of Charges

Ekpa, who previously served as a municipal councillor in Lahti, denied all charges. His legal team has not yet indicated whether he will appeal the ruling.

Widely known for his controversial involvement in the Biafran separatist movement, Ekpa has drawn both support and condemnation for his online broadcasts and activism.