The Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland has sentenced Simon Ekpa, a self-styled Prime Minister of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile, to six years in prison after finding him guilty of terrorism-related offences.

In its ruling delivered on Monday, the court held that Ekpa, a long-term resident of Lahti and former city councillor, participated in a terrorist organisation and publicly incited crimes for terrorist purposes. The charges stemmed from his alleged involvement in activities linked to separatist groups in southeastern Nigeria.

According to the court, Ekpa exploited his extensive following on social media between August 2021 and November 2024 to promote violence and encourage unrest in the Southeast.

“The accused was an influential member of a separatist movement which established armed groups with the aim of securing Biafra’s independence through force,” the verdict stated.

Investigators told the court that Ekpa facilitated the supply of weapons, ammunition, and explosives to the groups through his contacts in Nigeria.

He was also found guilty of using the social media platform X to encourage followers to commit crimes in Nigeria.

The court added that because the offences were committed while he was residing in Finland, the country had jurisdiction to prosecute him. Ekpa, who was born in Nigeria and moved to Finland in 2007, denied all charges during the trial.

He was arrested on November 21, 2024 following a probe by the Finnish National Bureau of Investigation (NBI). During the trial, the NBI froze his financial assets and those of his associates and related companies. The court also convicted him of aggravated tax fraud.

Ekpa’s sentence comes as the leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, remains in detention in Nigeria on terrorism charges.

The district court’s judgment is not final and may be appealed to a higher court.