A district court in Finland has sentenced Simon Ekpa, a factional leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), to six years in prison after finding him guilty of terrorism-related offences.
Ekpa, who has repeatedly claimed to head a self-styled “Biafra Government in Exile” as its prime minister, was convicted on charges of public incitement to commit crimes with terrorist intent.
The Finnish authorities said his activities, largely conducted through social media, contributed to violence and insecurity across southeastern Nigeria.
According to reports, Ekpa was arrested on 21 November 2024 by the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) after a lengthy probe into his online broadcasts and fundraising activities.
The prosecution argued that his directives for “sit-at-home” orders and other violent campaigns directly fueled attacks and instability in the region.
The Päijät-Häme District Court, which presided over the case, confirmed that his offences spanned from August 2021 to November 2024.
During the trial, Finnish authorities froze Ekpa’s bank accounts, as well as the financial assets of his close associates and related companies suspected of financing his operations.
The court’s judgment marks one of the most high-profile terrorism convictions involving a foreign-based separatist leader linked to unrest in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, in Nigeria, IPOB’s detained leader Nnamdi Kanu remains in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS), facing separate terrorism-related charges brought by the federal government.
The conviction of Ekpa is expected to have ripple effects on IPOB’s global networks and may strengthen calls for international cooperation in tackling cross-border terrorism financing and propaganda.
