A Finnish district court has handed down a six-year prison sentence to Simon Ekpa, a prominent figure in the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) for terrorism-related offences.
Ekpa’s conviction stems from his online activities, which the court deemed to be inciting violence and promoting terrorism in Southeastern Nigeria.
Persecondnews recalls that Ekpa was arrested on November 21, 2024, following an investigation by the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) into his social media activities.
The NBI found that Ekpa’s online posts contributed to unrest in southeastern Nigeria, leading to charges of “public incitement to commit a crime with terrorist intent”.
The Päijät-Häme District Court convicted Ekpa of participating in a terrorist group, inciting the public to commit crimes for terrorist purposes, aggravated tax fraud, and violating the Lawyers Act.
The court ordered that he remain in custody to serve his six-year sentence.
During the trial, the NBI froze Ekpa’s financial assets, as well as those of his associates and related companies.
Ekpa’s conviction has significant implications for the IPOB movement and its activities in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, another IPOB leader, Nnamdi Kanu, who is still in detention in Nigeria, is facing trial over terrorism charges brought against him by the Nigerian government.
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