Biafra: Finland seeks longer jail term as Simon Ekpa appeals terrorism conviction

A pro-Biafra agitator, Simon Ekpa, has appealed his terrorism conviction and six-year prison sentence in Finland.

According to BBC Pidgin, the Finnish prosecutor handling the case has also appealed, seeking a longer prison term for Ekpa on the grounds that the six-year sentence imposed by the district court was insufficient for the terrorism offences.

The Finnish Court of Appeal is expected to hear the appeals within the next three weeks.

Ekpa was arrested by Finnish law enforcement authorities in November 2024 and subsequently charged with inciting terrorism and participating in the activities of a terrorist group.

In September 2025, the Päijät-Häme District Court sentenced him to six years in prison after finding him guilty of the terrorism-related offences.

The court found that Ekpa had used his significant social media following to fuel tensions in Nigeria’s South-East between August 2021 and November 2024.

It also ruled that he was an influential member of a militant separatist movement seeking to establish an independent Biafra state in Nigeria.

According to the court, Ekpa supplied certain groups with weapons, explosives and ammunition through his network of contacts in the region.

The court further found that he encouraged his followers on X to commit crimes in Nigeria.

In addition to the terrorism convictions, Ekpa was convicted of aggravated tax fraud and violation of provisions of Finland’s Attorneys Act.

Ekpa has described himself as a disciple of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, IPOB.

In March 2025, the Nigerian government designated Ekpa as a “terrorism financier”.