Terrorism Trial: FG Considers Repatriation of Simon Ekpa After Six-Year Jail Term in Finland

The Federal Government has indicated it may seek the repatriation of Simon Ekpa to Nigeria once he completes his six-year prison sentence in Finland for terrorism-related offences.

On Monday, a Finnish court in Päijät-Häme sentenced the Nigerian-born Finnish politician to six years behind bars after finding him guilty of multiple crimes, including participation in a terrorist organisation, incitement to commit terrorist acts, aggravated tax fraud, and breaches of the Lawyers Act.

Ekpa, 40, a former municipal councillor in Lahti, was convicted after a series of hearings held between May 30 and June 25, 2025. According to the court, he played a central role in advancing the activities of armed separatist groups in Nigeria’s South-East, which the judges classified as terrorist organisations.

The judgment revealed that between August 2021 and November 2024, Ekpa sought to promote the independence of the “Biafra” region through unlawful means. Prosecutors told the court he leveraged social media influence and internal divisions within a separatist movement to assume a powerful role in its affairs.

Evidence presented showed that armed groups linked to his activities were supplied with weapons and explosives, while Ekpa allegedly encouraged his followers on X (formerly Twitter) to commit violent crimes in Nigeria.

Though Ekpa denied the charges, the court ordered his continued detention.

FG’s Reaction

Reacting to the verdict, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the government would study the situation and determine next steps, including the possibility of seeking Ekpa’s repatriation.

Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), also confirmed that Abuja was reviewing the judgment and would decide on appropriate actions once it had been formally examined.

In a statement, the Federal Government welcomed the conviction, describing it as a significant boost to international collaboration against extremism.

“The ruling stands as a watershed moment—not just for innocent Nigerians who have suffered from Ekpa’s incitement and financing of terror, but also for strengthening Nigeria-Finland relations,” Idris said.

He commended the Finnish judiciary for “upholding the rule of law” and stressed that the Tinubu administration remained committed to defending Nigeria’s sovereignty through diplomatic, military, and legal means. The government also urged followers of Ekpa to renounce armed struggle and embrace peace.

Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, equally hailed the judgment, describing it as proof that perpetrators of terrorism would face justice, no matter their location.

IPOB Distances Itself

Meanwhile, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has distanced itself from Ekpa. The group’s spokesperson, Emma Powerful, said under oath in a Finnish court, IPOB had made it clear that Ekpa was never a member.

“Simon Ekpa created his own parallel groups—‘Biafra Government in Exile,’ ‘Biafra Liberation Army,’ and ‘Biafra Defence Force’—all of which have nothing to do with IPOB,” the statement read.

The group accused the Nigerian government of trying to link Ekpa’s conviction to IPOB’s activities, calling it “a brazen fraud against truth and justice.”

Reactions from South-East Groups

The Coalition of South-East Youth Leaders welcomed the ruling, urging young people to reject violence and embrace dialogue for peace and development in the region.

Its President-General, Goodluck Ibem, said the South-East was “in desperate need of unity, not bloodshed and fear.”

Similarly, IPOB’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, said Ekpa’s conviction should serve as a warning against fraud and violence masquerading as self-determination.

According to him, Ekpa’s influence misled many vulnerable youths into armed conflict, giving the government an excuse to clamp down on innocent agitators.

“His so-called struggle was built on deception, false promises of warships and imminent independence. This judgment shows no criminal enterprise can survive lies and bloodshed,” Ejiofor added.

He urged Nigerians to see Ekpa’s conviction as a lesson that legitimate struggles must be rooted in truth and peaceful engagement, not violence.