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The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, has hailed the conviction of Simon Ekpa by a Finnish court, stressing that the judgment reinforces the principle that those who incite violence and fund terrorism will be held accountable, regardless of their location.
The Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland on Monday sentenced Ekpa to six years’ imprisonment for terrorism-related offences.
Reacting to the judgment, Musa described the ruling as a landmark victory in the global campaign against terrorism and violent extremism.
According to a statement by the Director of Defence Information, Brigadier General Tukur Gusau, Musa said the judgment affirmed that no individual or group sponsoring terrorism against Nigeria would find a haven.
The statement partly read, “The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Gwabin Musa, has expressed firm support for the judgment delivered today by the Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland, sentencing Simon Ekpa to six years in prison for terrorism-related offences.
“General Musa described the ruling as a landmark victory in the global effort to combat terrorism and violent extremism, noting that the conviction reinforces the principle that those who incite violence and fund terrorism will be held accountable, regardless of their location.”
He commended Nigerian security, intelligence, and law enforcement agencies, alongside the country’s diplomats, for providing actionable evidence that aided the conviction.
He added that the outcome reflected the power of international collaboration in confronting transnational threats.
“The CDS also extended deep appreciation to Nigerian security, intelligence, law enforcement agencies and diplomats for their unwavering collaboration and painstaking efforts in providing actionable evidence that led to Ekpa’s conviction. He noted that the success reflects the power of international cooperation and collaboration in addressing transnational threats, ” the statement added.
He said Musa reaffirmed the Armed Forces’ readiness to continue working with global partners to dismantle terrorist networks while urging Nigerians to remain vigilant and support ongoing security operations against insurgency and violent separatist movements.
“General Musa reaffirmed the Armed Forces’ resolve to continue working with global partners to dismantle terrorist networks and ensure lasting peace and security across Nigeria.
“He called on all Nigerians to remain vigilant and support security agencies in the ongoing fight against insurgency and violent separatist movements,” he said.
Self acclaimed prime minister sent to jail
The court ruled that Ekpa had participated in a terrorist organisation and had publicly incited crimes for terrorist purposes.
Mr Ekpa is the self acclaimed prime minister of the Biafran Government In Exile (BRGIE), an auto pilot faction of the IPOB.
The charges relate to Ekpa’s alleged activities aimed at re-establishing an independent state in the Biafra region of southeastern Nigeria, which was briefly independent in the late 1960s.
In its verdict, the court said that Ekpa had used his significant social media following to stoke tensions in the Biafra region between August 2021 and November 2024.
It added that Ekpa was an influential member of a Biafran separatist movement, which established armed groups aimed at bringing about Biafran independence by force.
The district court’s ruling further noted that Ekpa had supplied these groups with weapons, explosives, and ammunition through his network of contacts in the region, and he was also found to have encouraged his followers on social media platform X to commit crimes in Nigeria.
Ekpa, a long-term resident of Lahti and one-time local councillor, committed these crimes from the Finnish city, the verdict added, meaning the Finnish court had jurisdiction in the case.
Ekpa had denied all the charges in court. Born in Biafra, he moved to Finland in 2007 as an athlete.
The court on Monday also convicted him of aggravated tax fraud.
The district court’s verdict is not final, meaning it can be appealed to a higher court.
His arrest
In November 2024, the Finnish government arrested Mr Ekpa on suspicion of terror-related activities, including incitement to violence and terrorism financing.
He was accused of using social media to incite violence and causing unrest in the South-east region, as part of his secessionist agitation for Biafra.
According to the prosecutors who are demanding a six-year prison sentence for Mr. Ekpa, his activities may constitute terrorism under Finnish law.
During interrogations, Mr. Ekpa denied ordering weapons for pro-Biafra groups and other allegations against him.
IPOB distances self
In a statement by its Media and Publicity Secretary, IPOB said the issue of Ekpa’s membership status had already been clarified in Finland.
“The record is clear. IPOB, under oath in a Finnish court, testified that Simon Ekpa has never held any position in IPOB or ESN. Ekpa himself, under oath, described himself merely as a content creator and admitted he disowned IPOB,” the statement read.
The group emphasized that it remains a nonviolent organization, registered under international law and committed to lawful self-determination. It further stated that Ekpa had created parallel groups and initiatives that were not recognized by IPOB.
IPOB also stressed that its leader, Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, is facing trial in Nigeria and urged that his case be treated fairly and in line with international standards.
The statement called on the international community, including the European Union, Finland, the United Kingdom, the United States, and the United Nations, to ensure that judicial processes concerning Kanu are not influenced by unrelated cases.
“The Finnish court has already clarified that IPOB is not linked to Simon Ekpa, and we expect that this should not be misrepresented,” IPOB added.
