The Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland has sentenced Nigerian-born Finnish politician, Simon Ekpa, to six years in prison for terrorism-related offences and other crimes.
The 40-year-old former municipal councillor from Lahti was convicted on multiple charges, including involvement with a terrorist organisation, incitement to commit crimes for terrorist purposes, aggravated tax fraud, and violations of the Lawyers Act. The court ordered that he remain in custody.
According to court documents, Ekpa used social media between August 2021 and November 2024 to push for the independence of the Biafra region in Nigeria through unlawful means.
Judges found that he played a central role in transforming the separatist movement into a more structured organisation, which established armed groups later classified as terrorist organisations.
The court further revealed that Ekpa equipped the groups with weapons, explosives, and ammunition through his network of contacts, while also encouraging his followers on X (formerly Twitter) to commit crimes in Nigeria.
The trial, held in 12 sessions between May 30 and June 25, 2025, ended with a unanimous verdict by a three-judge panel.
Ekpa, who denied all the charges, was arrested in December 2024 on suspicion of inciting terrorist activities.
While four others were initially detained in connection with the case, charges against them were dropped for lack of evidence.
Widely known for his controversial role in the Biafran separatist movement, Ekpa’s conviction marks one of the most high-profile terrorism cases in Finland in recent years.