The federal government of Nigeria praised the conviction and sentencing of Finnish-based Biafra separatist instigator Simon Ekpa, describing it as a “major victory” in Nigeria’s fight against terrorism. Mohammed Idris, Minister of Information and Ethnic Training, responded to developments after he sentenced EKPA to six years in terrorism-related crimes and other charges on Monday to six years in prison.
Idris wrote in his official X handling: “We welcome the news that Simon Ekpa was convicted by a Finnish court for terrorism-related crimes and sentenced to six years in prison. Ekpa, a long-time resident of Lahti and a local councillor, was ruled by the Päijät-Häme District Court to participate in activities of terrorist organizations, inciting public crimes to commit terrorist crimes, serious tax fraud and violating Finland’s lawyers’ bill.
According to Finnish newspaper YLE, the court ruled that EKPA was an influential member of the radical separatist movement that promoted the split of the Biafran country from Nigeria. The three-member panel of judges agreed that he provided “weapons, explosives and ammunition” to separatist groups and encouraged his followers on X (formerly Twitter) to commit crime in Nigeria. The trial took place from May 30 to June 25, 2025, with a 12-day hearing before the verdict. The court ordered EKPA to remain in custody. Recall that Ekpa, who denies all charges, was arrested in December 2024 after Finnish authorities accused him of inciting violence and spreading separatist propaganda through social media.
