On Monday, the Päijät-Häme District Court sentenced Simon Ekpa, a Nigerian-born Finnish citizen, to six years in prison for terrorism-related offenses and other crimes.
The 40-year-old former municipal politician from Lahti was found guilty of several charges, including involvement with a terrorist organization, incitement to commit terrorist acts, aggravated tax fraud, and violations of the Lawyers Act.
The court also ordered Ekpa to remain in custody.
According to the verdict, between August 2021 and November 2024, Ekpa sought to promote the independence of the Biafra region in southeastern Nigeria through illegal activities.
“He used social media to gain political influence and exploited internal conflicts within a major separatist movement in Nigeria to play a leading role,” the court statement said, as reported by BBC News Pidgin.
Ekpa denied all charges.
The court found that Ekpa played a key role in founding and organizing the separatist movement, collaborating with others to strengthen its structure.
During the trial, it emerged that armed groups affiliated with the movement were formed and classified as terrorist organizations by the court.
“Ekpa supplied these groups with weapons, explosives, and ammunition through his network. He also encouraged his followers on X (formerly Twitter) to commit crimes in Nigeria,” the court added.
The trial spanned 12 sessions from May 30 to June 25, 2025, with a three-judge panel delivering a unanimous verdict.
Finnish authorities arrested Ekpa in December 2024 on terrorism-related charges.
He was detained on suspicion of publicly inciting crimes with terrorist intent, allegedly committed primarily in Lahti between August 2021 and November 2024.
Four other men were initially arrested by the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation but were later released as charges against them were dropped due to lack of evidence.
Ekpa, who formerly served as a municipal councillor in Lahti, is known for his controversial involvement in the Biafran separatist movement.
His online broadcasts and social media presence have attracted both support and criticism within Nigeria and abroad.
