The Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland has handed a six-year prison sentence to Simon Ekpa, a Nigerian-born Finnish citizen, after finding him guilty of terrorism-related offenses and other crimes.
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According to court documents obtained by BBC News Pidgin on Monday, Ekpa was convicted on several counts, including participation in a terrorist organization, incitement to commit crimes for terrorist purposes, aggravated tax fraud, and breaches of the Lawyers Act.
The court ruled that Ekpa had used his social media influence to push for the independence of Biafra in southeastern Nigeria through illegal means. Judges found that he played a role in establishing armed groups linked to the separatist movement, which were categorized as terrorist organizations.
Evidence presented during the proceedings showed that Ekpa incited his supporters to commit violent crimes in Nigeria, while also facilitating access to weapons, explosives, and ammunition for the groups.
The trial, which stretched across 12 sessions between May 30 and June 25, 2025, was presided over by a panel of three judges who unanimously delivered the verdict.
Ekpa, who was arrested in November 2024 and has remained in detention since then, denied all the allegations throughout the trial.
