The Nigerian government welcomed Simon Ekpa’s confidence in Finland

The federal government has praised the sentence of Simon Ekpa, a separatist agitator, by the Finnish court.

The Päijät-häme District Court on Monday sentenced Ekpa for six years in prison after finding him guilty of several violations, including participation in terrorist organizations, incitement to commit crimes for terrorist purposes, worsen tax fraud, and violations of lawyer laws.

Reacting through its official X grip, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, described the decision as “a great victory for the people of Nigeria in the collective struggle against terror.”

The verdict, submitted by the panel of three judges, followed the hearing held between 30 May and 25 June 2025. The court decided that Ekpa, a prominent figure in a separatist campaign for Independent Biafra, gave fighters with weapons, explosives, and ammunition through regional contact, while also using his X account to incite in Nigeria.

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The jury further concluded that he played a central role in turning separatist movements into a more structured organization, working together with other actors.

Ekpa, who denied all accusations, was arrested in December 2024 after the Finnish authority accused him of spreading separatist propaganda and inciting online violence. The court has ordered him to remain detained.

However, the verdict can appeal before a higher court.