By Abiola Olawale
The Federal Government of Nigeria has commended the conviction of Simon Ekpa, a Nigerian-born Finnish citizen, by a Finnish court in Finland.
Recall that the Päijät-Häme District Court, sitting in Finland, sentenced Ekpa to six years in prison on September 1, 2025, for terrorism-related offenses.
Reacting to the development, Nigeria’s Minister of Information, Mohammed Idris, described the ruling as “a major victory for the Nigerian people in the collective fight against terror.”
“We welcome the news of Simon Ekpa’s conviction by a Finnish court for terrorism-related crimes and his sentencing to six years in prison. A major victory for the Nigerian people in the collective fight against terror,” Mohammed wrote on his official handle on X.
The New Diplomat reports that Ekpa was found guilty of allegedly participating in the activities of a terrorist group, inciting the public to commit crimes for terrorist purposes, engaging in aggravated tax fraud, and violating the Lawyers Act.
The judges found that he allegedly supplied these groups with weapons, explosives, and ammunition, and encouraged followers on X (formerly Twitter) to commit crimes in Nigeria.
The New Diplomat reports that this comes after Ekpa, a former Lahti municipal politician and athlete, was arrested by Finnish authorities on November 21, 2024, following an investigation by the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI).
The probe focused on Ekpa’s alleged use of social media to spread separatist propaganda, incite violence, and promote unrest in Nigeria’s southeast, particularly in relation to the Biafra independence movement.
He was subsequently charged in court on allegations of public incitement to commit crimes with terrorist intent, participation in a terrorist group, aggravated tax fraud, and violations of Finland’s Lawyers Act.
During court proceedings, prosecutors presented evidence of Ekpa’s alleged online activities, including posts and broadcasts that allegedly fueled violence against civilians and authorities in Nigeria.
