Terrorism: Finnish Court Sentences Simon Ekpa to Six Years in Prison

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

A court in Finland has sentenced controversial Nigerian-born politician to six years in prison for terrorism-related offences in the country.

The 40-year-old Nigerian, based in Finland, was arrested some months ago on the accusation of inciting members of the public to commit crimes for terrorist purposes.

The Nigerian government had also reached out to the European nation to prosecute him and possibly extradite him to Nigeria for also inciting the public to attack and kill security officials.

He was said to be behind the sit-at-home order in the South East of Nigeria. Mr Ekpa has also been accused of using the controversial group, Eastern Security Network (ESN), to unleash terror on residents of the region.

ESN is the paramilitary organisation of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a pro-Biafra separatist movement declared as a terrorist group.

On Monday, September 1, 2025, a Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland found the former athlete guilty of participating in the activities of a terrorist group, engaging in aggravated tax fraud, and violating the Lawyers Act.

“He used social media to gain a politically influential position and exploited the confusion within a key separatist movement in Nigeria to take on a significant role,” the court stated, ordering the former Lahti municipal politician to remain in custody.