Finnish Court Jails Nigerian-Born Lawyer, Simon Ekpa, Six Years for Terrorism, Tax Fraud, and Professional Misconduct
The Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland has sentenced Nigerian-born Finnish national, Simon Ekpa, to six years’ imprisonment for terrorism-related offences and other criminal violations. This judgment, delivered on Monday, was confirmed in official court documents sighted by BBC News Pidgin.
Ekpa, aged 40 and a former municipal councillor in Lahti, was found guilty on multiple counts, including participation in the activities of a terrorist organisation, incitement to commit crimes for terrorist purposes, aggravated tax fraud, and breaches of the Lawyers Act.
The court further ordered that Ekpa remain in custody pending the commencement of his sentence, citing the gravity of the offences and the risk factors associated with his release.
According to the judgment, between August 2021 and November 2024, Ekpa sought to advance the independence of the so‑called Biafra region in southeastern Nigeria through unlawful means.
The court noted that Ekpa leveraged social media to attain political influence, exploiting internal divisions within a major separatist movement in Nigeria to assume a significant leadership role. He, however, denied all charges throughout the proceedings.
Findings of the court revealed that Ekpa played a central role in establishing and structuring the separatist movement into a more organised entity, working in concert with other actors.
Evidence presented showed that armed groups were formed under the movement, which the court classified as terrorist organisations. Ekpa was said to have facilitated the supply of weapons, explosives, and ammunition through his network of contacts, and to have encouraged his followers on X (formerly Twitter) to commit crimes in Nigeria.
The trial, which spanned 12 sittings between 30 May and 25 June 2025, was presided over by a three‑judge panel that unanimously delivered the verdict. Ekpa had been arrested in December 2024 by Finnish authorities on terrorism-related suspicions, including public incitement to commit crimes with terrorist intent.
The alleged offences were committed primarily in Lahti between August 23, 2021, and November 2024. While four other suspects were initially arrested in connection with the case, charges against them were later dropped for lack of sufficient evidence. Ekpa’s activities, particularly his online broadcasts and social media engagements, have long attracted both strong support and sharp criticism within and outside Nigeria.
