FINNISH COURT SLASHES PRO-BIAFRA AGITATOR SIMON EKPA'S JAIL TERM FROM 6 YEARS TO 4 YEARS BUT UPHOLDS TERRORISM CONVICTION.(PHOTO)
Finnish Court Slashes Pro-Biafra Agitator Simon Ekpa's Jail Term From 6 Years To 4 Years But Upholds Terrorism Conviction
Finnish appeal court has reduced the prison sentence of pro-Biafra agitator, Simon Ekpa, from six years to four years, while maintaining his conviction for terrorism-related offences.
According to Finnish public broadcaster Yle, the court on Thursday, October 15, upheld its earlier finding that Ekpa participated in a terrorist organisation and publicly incited crimes for terrorist purposes.
Ekpa was initially sentenced to six years in prison in September 2025 by the Päijät-Häme District Court after he was found guilty of terrorism offences, aggravated tax fraud and violation of the Lawyers Act.
During the appeal, Ekpa argued that his actions in the South-East were driven by political agitation and not terrorist intent. The prosecution on the other hand argued that the six-year sentence was too lenient given the gravity of his crimes.
The appeal court noted that while the situation in South-Eastern Nigeria, the Biafra region, was close to a civil war, it did not legally meet the definition of one, a factor that influenced the reduction of his sentence.
The court found that between August 2021 and November 2024, Ekpa used his large social media following to inflame tensions in the South-East, supplied armed groups with weapons, explosives and ammunition through his contacts, and encouraged his followers on X to commit crimes in Nigeria as part of his push for an independent Biafran state.
Ekpa, who denied all charges, was arrested in Finland in November 2024. He moved to Finland in 2007 and is a long-time resident of Lahti, where he once served as a city council member for the National Coalition Party.
The ruling is not yet final and can still be appealed at a higher court.

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