Fidelia Soriwei, Abuja
Pro-Biafra separatist campaigner Simon Ekpa has appealed the six-year prison sentence imposed on him by a Finnish court for terrorism-related offences, opening a new phase in the high-profile case that has attracted attention in both Finland and Nigeria.
Reports indicate that Finnish prosecutors have also filed an appeal, arguing that the six-year jail term handed down to Ekpa does not adequately reflect the gravity of the offences for which he was convicted.
The Finnish Court of Appeal is expected to begin hearing the appeals within the next three weeks.
Ekpa was arrested by Finnish authorities in November 2024 and later charged with inciting terrorism and participating in the activities of a terrorist group.
In September 2025, the Päijät-Häme District Court found him guilty and sentenced him to six years in prison.
According to the court, Ekpa used his extensive social media presence to intensify tensions in Nigeria’s South-East region between August 2021 and November 2024.
The court further held that he played an influential role in a militant separatist movement pursuing the creation of an independent Biafra state.
Judges also ruled that Ekpa supplied weapons, explosives and ammunition to certain groups through a network of contacts in the region and encouraged followers on X, formerly known as Twitter, to engage in criminal activities in Nigeria.
Beyond the terrorism-related convictions, the court found him guilty of aggravated tax fraud and breaches of Finland’s Attorneys Act.
Ekpa has long identified himself as a disciple of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
The case remains one of the most closely watched legal proceedings involving a prominent pro-Biafra figure, with the outcome of the appeal expected to determine whether his prison sentence will be reduced, upheld or increased.
In March 2025, the Federal Government designated Ekpa a terrorism financier, a development that further heightened scrutiny of his activities and legal battles.
