The Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland has sentenced Simon Ekpa, a self-styled Biafra agitator, to six years in prison after convicting him of terrorism-related crimes and financial fraud.
Ekpa, who has lived in Lahti since 2007 and once served as a local councillor, was found guilty on Monday of participating in a terrorist organisation, inciting terrorist activities, and committing aggravated tax fraud.
According to court findings, between August 2021 and November 2024, Ekpa leveraged his wide social media influence to encourage violence in Nigeria’s South-East. He was identified as a key figure within a Biafran separatist network that formed armed groups to pursue independence through violent means.
The court further ruled that Ekpa facilitated the supply of weapons, explosives, and ammunition to the groups and urged his followers via social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to commit crimes in Nigeria.
Ekpa, a former athlete who relocated to Finland nearly two decades ago, denied all charges during the trial. His legal team has the right to appeal the ruling in a higher court.
