BREAKING: Finland Jails Simon Ekpa for 6 Years Over Terrorism and Fraud

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Simon Ekpa, the self-proclaimed Prime Minister of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has been sentenced to six years in prison by the Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland after being found guilty of terrorism, arms distribution, and tax fraud.

The court ruled that between 2021 and 2024, Ekpa used social media platforms to promote violence, while also facilitating the distribution of weapons, explosives, and ammunition. Prosecutors further revealed that he committed financial crimes, including tax fraud, while living in Finland.

Ekpa, who moved to Finland in 2007 as an athlete and later served as a local councilor, pleaded not guilty, insisting he was merely a content creator. His lawyer, Kaarle Gummerus, argued that evidence presented from Nigeria should not be relied upon. However, state prosecutor Sampsa Hakala countered that Finnish authorities had worked closely with the Nigerian government and had “overwhelming proof” to secure a conviction.

The ruling is not yet final, as Ekpa still has the right to appeal the judgment. The court also stressed that since Ekpa is a legal resident of Finland, repatriation to Nigeria is unlikely.

Ekpa was arrested in November 2024, and his trial began in May 2025, concluding swiftly in just nine months—drawing comparisons to IPOB leader Nnamdi Kanu, whose trial in Nigeria has dragged on since 2021.

Meanwhile, IPOB members have continued to distance themselves from Ekpa, while many Nigerians expressed outrage over what they describe as a “light sentence” considering the alleged damage his actions caused back home. Others praised the speed and efficiency of Finland’s judicial system in handling the case.