By Deborah Nnamdi
The Päijät-Häme District Court has sentenced Nigerian-born Finnish national, Simon Ekpa, to six years in prison for terrorism-related offences and other crimes, according to court documents obtained by BBC News Pidgin.
Ekpa, a 40-year-old former municipal councillor from Lahti, was convicted on multiple charges, including:
Participation in a terrorist organisation’s activities, incitement to commit crimes for terrorist purposes, aggravated tax fraud, and violations of the Lawyers Act.
The court ruled that he remain in custody.
According to the judgment, between August 2021 and November 2024, Ekpa attempted to advance the independence of the self-declared Biafra region in southeastern Nigeria through illegal means.
“He used social media to build political influence and took advantage of disarray within a major separatist group in Nigeria to assume a leading role,” the court stated.
Ekpa denied all charges.
The court found that he played a key role in establishing and structuring the separatist movement, working closely with others. During the trial, it was revealed that armed groups tied to the movement were formed and classified by the court as terrorist organisations.
“Ekpa facilitated the arming of these groups with weapons, explosives, and ammunition through his network of contacts,” the court said. “He also encouraged his followers on X (formerly Twitter) to commit crimes in Nigeria.”
The trial took place over 12 sessions between May 30 and June 25, 2025, with a three-judge panel unanimously delivering the verdict.
Ekpa was arrested by Finnish authorities in December 2024 on suspicion of inciting terrorist acts. He was detained on probable cause, accused of promoting terrorist crimes mainly in Lahti.
Initially, four other men were arrested in connection with the case, but charges against them were dropped due to a lack of evidence.
Ekpa, known for his outspoken support of Biafran separatism, gained notoriety through his online broadcasts and social media posts, which have drawn both support and criticism in Nigeria and abroad..
