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| Ekpa faces sentencing as Finland upholds justice |
A Finnish district court on Monday found Simon Ekpa guilty of terrorism-related offences and other crimes. The Päijät-Häme District Court sentenced him to six years in prison.
Ekpa is a Finland-based leader tied to the Indigenous People of Biafra, known as IPOB. The court said he had participated in a terrorist group and incited crimes for terrorist purposes.
The court also convicted Ekpa of aggravated tax fraud. He was accused of using social media to encourage violence and of supplying weapons through a contact network. The court listed those actions in its ruling.
Ekpa denied the charges during the trial. The court’s ruling is not final and may be appealed to a higher court in Finland.
Nigeria’s military leadership welcomed the verdict. Chief of Defence Staff General Christopher Gwabin Musa called the judgment a clear sign that sponsors of terrorism will not find safe havens. The CDS said the ruling affirms global cooperation against terrorism.
The federal government also reacted. The Minister of Information described the sentence as a major victory against terrorism. The Attorney-General said the conviction confirms Ekpa’s role in serious crimes against Nigerians and pledged further action.
IPOB’s leadership issued a public statement distancing the movement from Ekpa after the verdict. The group said it did not recognize him as a leader.
Finnish prosecutors had accused Ekpa of arranging arms and explosives for armed groups in southeastern Nigeria. The court said those networks operated partly through contacts inside Nigeria. The charges referenced activity dated between August 2021 and November 2024.
The case began after Finnish police and prosecutors opened inquiries into Ekpa’s actions in Finland. Investigators worked with Nigerian authorities during the probe, the court record shows.
International media and press agencies reported the sentence and the court’s findings. Associated Press, Yle and several Nigerian outlets published accounts of the verdict and the reactions that followed.
Officials tied the sentence to wider security concerns in Nigeria’s southeast. Some reports cited data that “sit-at-home” orders and related unrest in the region had led to hundreds of deaths and significant economic losses. Those figures were reported by regional analysts and local research groups.
Following Ekpa’s arrest and trial, Nigerian authorities said they would explore repatriation or further legal steps. The Attorney-General’s office indicated Nigeria may seek further cooperation with Finnish authorities.
Legal observers noted the court also found Ekpa guilty of breaching the Lawyers Act in Finland. The court record lists professional conduct breaches alongside the terrorism and tax fraud charges.
Ekpa had lived in Lahti, Finland, since 2007. He previously held roles in local politics and was a member of the National Coalition Party. Finnish reports referenced his public profile in Lahti during coverage of the trial.
The Finnish court said Ekpa used his social media reach to stoke tensions in Nigeria. The ruling cited posts on platforms, including X, as part of the evidence for public incitement.
Human rights groups and some civil society groups have in past years criticised enforced local shutdowns and the effects on civilians. The court’s ruling referenced the role of online calls to action tied to real-world harm.
Finland’s decision to try Ekpa on crimes committed partly abroad reflects Finnish jurisdiction rules cited by prosecutors. The court said that crimes committed from Finnish soil can fall under local law when they produce effects elsewhere.
Nigerian government statements thanked Finnish authorities for the judgment and for cooperation in the case. The Foreign Ministry and other agencies issued messages praising the outcome.
Security agencies in Nigeria have listed Ekpa among individuals linked to violent acts and disruptions in the southeast. The military named him in public wanted lists prior to his arrest.
Finnish court records show the sentence includes six years’ imprisonment. The court also imposed penalties related to the tax and ethics convictions. The exact sums and legal fines appear in the judgment documents.
Ekpa’s legal team raised questions during trial proceedings about the reliability of some evidence, including information from abroad. The defence contested certain allegations and denied criminal intent. The court nevertheless convicted him on the charges brought.
Nigerian officials said the conviction could strengthen cross-border legal cooperation on terrorism and terrorism financing. They urged continued information sharing with Finland and other partners.
The court’s verdict may be appealed. Finnish law allows appeals to higher courts, and Ekpa’s legal representatives have time to seek review. Court notices say the ruling is not final until appeal deadlines pass.