On Monday, the Päijät-Häme District Court sentenced Nigerian-born Finnish citizen, Simon Ekpa, to six years in prison for terrorism-related offenses and other crimes, according to court documents obtained by BBC News Pidgin.
Ekpa, a 40-year-old former municipal councillor from Lahti, was found guilty of several charges, including involvement with a terrorist organisation, encouraging terrorist acts, aggravated tax fraud, and breaching the Lawyers Act. The court also ruled that he remain in custody.
The judgment revealed that between August 2021 and November 2024, Ekpa pushed for the independence of the self-declared Biafra region in southeastern Nigeria using unlawful methods. According to the court, he built political influence on social media, exploited internal divisions within a major separatist group, and rose to a prominent role in the movement.
Although Ekpa denied all allegations, the trial exposed that armed groups tied to the movement were recognised as terrorist organisations by the court. Evidence showed that Ekpa helped organise the movement into a more structured body, supplied the groups with weapons, ammunition, and explosives through his contacts, and encouraged his followers on X (formerly Twitter) to carry out crimes in Nigeria.
The trial spanned 12 sessions from May 30 to June 25, 2025, with three judges unanimously reaching the verdict.
Ekpa was initially arrested in December 2024 on terrorism-related suspicions, including incitement to commit crimes. Authorities alleged the offences took place between August 23, 2021, and November 2024, mainly in Lahti.
Four other men were also arrested during the investigation but were later released after charges against them were dropped for lack of evidence.
Ekpa, once a local politician in Lahti, has become a controversial figure due to his outspoken role in the Biafran separatist movement. His online broadcasts and social media presence have drawn both heavy criticism and strong support in Nigeria and beyond.
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