Simon Ekpa, a Nigerian-born separatist agitator, has been convicted by a Finnish court and sentenced to six years in prison for terrorism-related offences, a development welcomed by the Nigerian government as a validation of his complicity in violent crimes in the country’s South-East region. The Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland delivered its unanimous ruling on Monday, September 1, finding Ekpa, 40, guilty on multiple charges, including inciting terrorism and participating in the activities of a terrorist group. The court further convicted him of aggravated tax fraud and violations of the Lawyers Act, ordering him to remain in custody.

According to the court's judgment, between August 2021 and November 2024, Ekpa used his significant social media following to stoke tensions and gained a politically influential position within a key separatist movement in Nigeria. He was found to have taken advantage of the confusion within this movement to play a significant role, through which he allegedly supplied armed groups with "weapons, explosives, and ammunition" via his network of contacts. The former municipal politician from Lahti also encouraged and enticed his followers on X (formerly Twitter) to "commit crimes" in Nigeria. The fact that Ekpa committed these crimes from Finland provided the court with jurisdiction over the case. The trial was conducted over 12 sessions between May 30 and June 25, 2025, during which Ekpa denied all charges.

The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), on Monday, hailed the conviction, describing it as a confirmation that Ekpa "influenced and committed heinous crimes against the Nigerian people, especially in the South East." Fagbemi commended the Finnish authorities for their cooperation, viewing the decision as progress in international collaboration against transnational crimes and a signal for future partnership. Similarly, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated that the Nigerian government would "assess the situation and take decisions in the best interest of the country," hinting at potential repatriation of Ekpa to Nigeria. Idris described the ruling as a "watershed moment" for the countless innocent Nigerians affected by the terror incited by Ekpa and his collaborators, and for strengthening bilateral relations between Nigeria and Finland. He emphasized that the Finnish judiciary had not only vindicated Nigeria’s consistent position but also sent a clear signal to extremists globally that justice would prevail. The Federal Government also urged Ekpa’s followers to renounce armed struggle and embrace peace.

Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, also lauded the verdict, stating that it "reinforces the principle that those who incite violence and fund terrorism will be held accountable, regardless of their location." He highlighted the success as a reflection of the "power of international cooperation and collaboration in addressing transnational threats."

In a significant reaction, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) swiftly distanced itself from Simon Ekpa, asserting that he was never a member of their organization. Emma Powerful, IPOB’s Media and Publicity Director, reiterated that IPOB had testified under oath in a Finnish court that Ekpa never held any position within IPOB or its armed wing, ESN. Powerful added that Ekpa himself, under oath, described himself merely as a "content creator," admitted to disowning IPOB, and boasted of his intent to destroy the group. IPOB accused Ekpa of creating "parallel contraptions" such as the "Biafra Government in Exile," "Biafra Liberation Army," and "Biafra Defence Force," which they insisted were rejected by IPOB and constituted a "brazen fraud." IPOB’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, echoed this sentiment, describing the conviction as unsurprising given Ekpa's offences and the "weakness of his defense." Ejiofor accused Ekpa of defrauding followers with false promises of military equipment and imminent Biafra independence, concluding that his trial was about "fraud and funding violence, not self-determination" and warning against glorifying him.