…Finland jails separatist agitator for six years
…IPOB distances self, says FG using case to influence Kanu’s trial
By John Paul
The Federal Government has hailed the conviction of Simon Ekpa by a Finnish court on terrorism charges, describing it as a vindication of Nigeria’s long-held position on his activities and a milestone in relations with Finland.
In a statement yesterday, Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, said the six-year sentence handed down by the Päijät-Häme District Court affirmed international recognition of the dangers of incitement and violence linked to the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).
“This ruling is a watershed moment – not only for the countless innocent Nigerians whose lives and livelihoods were destroyed by Ekpa’s incitement and funding of terror, but also for the strengthening of bilateral relations between Nigeria and Finland,” Idris declared.
Ekpa, a Finnish citizen of Nigerian origin, was found guilty of participating in a terrorist organisation, inciting terrorist crimes, and aggravated tax fraud. Finnish investigators established that he used online platforms to instigate violence in Nigeria’s southeast and provided support to armed groups.
The Nigerian government said the conviction confirmed that Ekpa’s actions had direct consequences on local communities. “For years, his reckless orchestration of violence through IPOB terror activities shattered families, ruined businesses, orphaned children, and left entire communities in fear,” Idris said.
He stressed that the Tinubu administration would continue defending Nigeria’s sovereignty, deploying diplomatic, military, and judicial resources to protect citizens. “We urge all those misled by Simon Ekpa and others to lay down their arms and embrace peace. Nigeria is big enough for all, but there can be no progress where violence prevails,” Idris added.
The government commended the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Armed Forces, intelligence agencies, Ministry of Justice, and Police for their roles in countering separatist violence. Idris urged Nigerians at home and abroad to work for unity, peace, and stability.
Meanwhile, IPOB yesterday disowned Simon Ekpa following his conviction, insisting that his activities had no link to the group. In a statement by its spokesperson, Emma Powerful, IPOB accused the Federal Government of deliberately linking Ekpa to its struggle in order to discredit its detained leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu.
“The world must know that Simon Ekpa’s non-membership of IPOB has already been judicially settled in Finland,” the group said. It explained that both IPOB and Ekpa testified under oath in court, where it was established that he was not part of the organisation.
According to IPOB, Ekpa had set up parallel contraptions such as “Biafra Government in Exile,” “Biafra Liberation Army (BLA),” and “Biafra Defence Force (BDF),” which it repudiated. It argued that associating him with IPOB amounted to “deliberate misinformation — a calculated lie to deceive.”
The group accused the government of using Ekpa’s case as a diversionary tactic to influence judicial proceedings in Kanu’s trial, whose no-case submission ruling has been adjourned until October 10, 2025. IPOB described the adjournment as “judicial hostage-taking and persecution.”
It appealed to the EU, Finland, the US, the UK, and the UN to intervene. “Simon Ekpa’s conviction is his burden alone. IPOB will never carry it. We remain a peaceful, lawful movement committed to self-determination,” the group declared, warning that Nigeria risked further damage to its international image if it persisted in linking Ekpa to its cause.