Finnish court sentences Simon Ekpa for six years in prison for terrorism

The Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland on Monday punished a leader who claimed to be from the Biafra Indigenous People (Ipob), Simon Ekpa, to six years in prison for crimes related to terrorism.

EKPA, who was captured by security agents in Nordic countries in November 2024, was sentenced to participate in the activities of terrorist organizations, incitement to commit crimes for terrorist purposes, exacerbated tax fraud, and violations of lawyers’ laws.

In the verdict seen by BBC Pidgin, the court argues that Ekpa is trying to promote Biafra’s independence in the southeast of Nigeria through illegal means. Between August 2021 and November last year.

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The court also found that EKPA, worked with others, established and developed IPOB into a more organized criminal organization.

He, however, denied all accusations.

“He (EKPA) uses social media to get a position that is politically influential and take advantage of confusion in the key separatist movement in Nigeria to play an important role in it.

“EKPA completes groups with weapons, explosives, and ammunition through his contact network. He also urges and attracts his followers in X (previously Twitter) to commit crimes in Nigeria,” the court document said.