By Our Reporter
Simon Ekpa, a Finnish-Nigerian lawyer and self-acclaimed Biafra agitator, has been sentenced to six years in prison by the Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland after being found guilty of terrorism-related offences and aggravated tax fraud.
The conviction marks the most significant legal action yet against Ekpa, who has long been accused of orchestrating violence in Nigeria’s South-East through his online activities. The court ruled that he played an active role in a terrorist organisation and repeatedly incited crimes for terrorist purposes.
Ekpa, a long-term resident of Lahti and former local councillor, was said to have used his large social media following to stir unrest in Nigeria between August 2021 and November 2024. He was found to have encouraged attacks, supplied armed groups with weapons and explosives, and mobilised support for separatist violence aimed at creating an independent Biafra.
Prosecutors told the court that Ekpa’s actions had tangible consequences, with his directives on platform X (formerly Twitter) linked to killings, destruction of property, and fear in communities across the South-East. The Finnish court asserted jurisdiction because the offences were coordinated from Lahti, where Ekpa resided.
Ekpa, who moved to Finland in 2007 as an athlete, denied all charges but was also convicted of aggravated tax fraud after investigators found discrepancies in his financial records.
The ruling, however, is not final and may still be appealed to a higher court. His legal team is expected to challenge the verdict, which has drawn attention from both Nigerian authorities and international observers concerned about the global reach of digital extremism.
