The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), on Monday welcomed the conviction of Nigerian-born separatist leader Simon Ekpa by a Finnish court, describing it as a “confirmation of his complicity in violent crimes” in Nigeria’s South-East region.
Ekpa, 40, was handed a six-year prison sentence by the Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland after being found guilty of inciting terrorism and participating in the activities of a terrorist organization. The three-member judicial panel ruled unanimously, noting that Ekpa had used his substantial social media following to stoke tensions in Nigeria between August 2021 and November 2024.
The Finnish court determined that Ekpa, a long-term resident of Lahti and former local councillor, was an influential figure in the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), a militant separatist movement advocating for the secession of Biafra from Nigeria. The verdict also stated that he supplied weapons, explosives, and ammunition to groups in the South-East and encouraged his followers on the social media platform X to commit crimes.
In a statement, Fagbemi said the judgment validated Nigeria’s position that Ekpa played a direct role in fueling insecurity. “His sentencing for terrorism and related offences is a confirmation that he influenced and committed heinous crimes against the Nigerian people, especially in the South East,” he said.
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The AGF commended Finnish authorities for their cooperation, describing the decision as a positive step in international collaboration against transnational crimes. “We see this as a signal of future partnership and would take appropriate further actions upon receipt and review of the court’s judgment,” he added.
Ekpa’s crimes, the court noted, were committed from Finland, giving the district court jurisdiction in the case. The ruling underscores the growing international dimension of efforts to hold separatist leaders accountable, particularly when their actions cross borders.
The conviction is expected to bolster Nigeria’s ongoing campaign against IPOB and other separatist movements, sending a clear message that incitement to violence, even from abroad, can carry significant legal consequences.