The Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland has convicted and sentenced Simon Ekpa, a prominent pro-Biafra separatist leader, to six years in prison on charges linked to terrorism.
The court found Ekpa guilty of inciting terrorism, financing extremist activities, and participating in the operations of a terrorist organisation.
The ruling, delivered on Monday, follows months of investigations into his role in promoting violent separatist campaigns in Nigeria’s South-East region.
Ekpa, who describes himself as a disciple of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been one of the most controversial diaspora voices pushing for the independence of Biafra.
From his base in Finland, he has used social media and online broadcasts to call for civil disobedience, “sit-at-home” protests, and violent resistance, which Nigerian authorities argue have crippled economic activity and worsened insecurity in the South-East.
Prosecutors presented evidence linking Ekpa’s online directives to violent attacks in Nigeria, including ambushes on security forces, destruction of public infrastructure, and intimidation of civilians who defied his orders.
The court concluded that while Ekpa did not directly carry out the attacks, his persistent incitement and propaganda “significantly contributed” to acts of violence and terror, meeting the threshold for terrorism offences under Finnish law.
Ekpa’s case drew international attention after Nigeria formally petitioned Finland to restrain his activities, accusing him of destabilising the South-East from abroad.
The Finnish government, under growing diplomatic pressure, launched an investigation in late 2023. Monday’s ruling marks one of the strongest actions yet by a European court against a foreign-based separatist agitator accused of fuelling unrest in Africa.
While Ekpa’s lawyers have indicated plans to appeal, Nigerian officials have welcomed the ruling, describing it as a “breakthrough in curbing diaspora-funded terrorism.”
Security analysts say the judgment could set a precedent for holding diaspora agitators accountable for violence in their countries of origin.
