Pro-Biafra activist convicted for arming groups and inciting violence in Nigeria via social media from Finland.
LAHTI, Finland – A Finnish court handed Simon Ekpa a six-year prison sentence Monday for terrorism offenses. The 40-year-old Nigerian-Finnish separatist leader was found guilty of funding armed groups and inciting violence in southeastern Nigeria through his social media campaigns.
It’s worth noting that this case appears to mark one of the more unusual instances of European courts prosecuting someone for activities targeting another continent entirely.
Unanimous Verdict After Extensive Trial
Three judges at the Päijät-Häme District Court reached their unanimous decision after what must have been an exhausting 12 trial sessions spanning from May 30 to June 25, 2025. Ekpa was hit with multiple charges:
• Participation in terrorist organization activities
• Incitement to commit crimes for terrorist purposes
• Aggravated tax fraud
• Violations of the Lawyers Act
The former Lahti municipal councillor denied everything, though he’ll stay locked up while considering whether to appeal.
Court Says Ekpa Weaponized Social Media for Biafran Cause
Court documents suggest that between August 2021 and November 2024, Ekpa systematically pushed for Biafran independence through what prosecutors deemed illegal methods. He seems to have capitalized on existing fractures within Nigeria’s separatist movement to boost his own influence and reshape it into what authorities now classify as a terrorist organization.
“He used social media to gain a politically influential position and took advantage of the confusion within a key separatist movement in Nigeria to play a significant role in it,” the court noted in its judgment.
What’s particularly striking is how the evidence painted a picture of Ekpa allegedly supplying armed groups with weapons, explosives, and ammunition through his network of contacts. His X account (the platform formerly known as Twitter) apparently became a rallying point where he urged thousands of followers to commit crimes back in Nigeria.
International Terrorism Case Highlights Cross-Border Threats
Finnish authorities nabbed Ekpa in December 2024 on terrorism-related charges. This may represent a turning point in how European courts handle cross-border incitement cases. The prosecution suggests that European legal systems are getting more comfortable going after people who use social media to stir up violence in distant countries.
Interestingly, Finnish investigators initially arrested four other men in connection with the case, but those charges were dropped later due to what officials called insufficient evidence.
Biafran Movement Leader’s Controversial Legacy
Ekpa’s conviction likely represents a significant blow to the Biafran separatist movement, which has been pushing for independence in southeastern Nigeria since the devastating civil war of the 1960s. His online broadcasts and social media presence have managed to attract both passionate supporters and fierce critics, both within Nigeria and beyond its borders.
The case also raises some uncomfortable questions about how social media platforms might be enabling modern separatist campaigns. It’s one thing to debate independence online; it’s another entirely when those discussions allegedly cross into territory involving weapons and violence.
European courts are clearly grappling with the complexities of prosecuting international terrorism cases, especially when the alleged crimes happen thousands of miles away from where the defendant lives.
Finnish authorities haven’t said whether Ekpa plans to challenge the six-year sentence, which comes with continued detention provisions.
