On Monday, the Päijät-Häme District Court sentenced the 40-year-old Nigerian-born Finnish politician to six years in jail after convicting him of multiple crimes, including participation in terrorist activities, incitement, aggravated tax fraud, and violations of the Lawyers Act.
According to court records, between August 2021 and November 2024, Ekpa sought to advance the secessionist cause of Biafra through illegal means. He was said to have exploited divisions within the movement to assume a leadership role, using social media to mobilise followers. The court further revealed that he helped organise armed groups, supplied them with weapons and explosives, and repeatedly urged his supporters to commit crimes in Nigeria.
The judgment followed 12 trial sessions held between May and June 2025, with a panel of three judges unanimously delivering the verdict. Ekpa, however, denied all the charges.
Reacting to the ruling, Nigeria’s Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, stated that the government would carefully study the court’s decision before deciding on possible repatriation. The Attorney General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), also noted that further legal steps would be taken once a certified copy of the judgment was received.
In a statement, the Federal Government welcomed the Finnish court’s decision, describing it as a milestone in the global fight against terrorism and a boost to bilateral cooperation between Nigeria and Finland. It commended Finland’s judiciary for upholding the rule of law and reaffirmed President Tinubu’s commitment to safeguarding Nigeria’s sovereignty through diplomatic, military, and judicial means.
The government also appealed to Ekpa’s followers and other separatist fighters to renounce violence, lay down their arms, and embrace peace.
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