AGF Welcomes Simon Ekpa’s Terrorism Conviction, Says Verdict Confirms Role in South-East Unrest
The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has hailed the conviction of Nigerian-born separatist agitator Simon Ekpa by a Finnish court, describing it as a validation of Nigeria’s position on his alleged role in the violence and insecurity plaguing the South-East region.
In a statement issued on Monday, Fagbemi said the six-year prison sentence handed down by the Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland confirms Ekpa’s involvement in terrorism and other crimes that have destabilised the region.
“We receive the good news of the conviction of Simon Ekpa by the Finnish court. His sentencing for terrorism and other related offences is a confirmation that he influenced and committed heinous crimes against the Nigerian people, especially in the South East,” the minister said.
He commended Finnish authorities for their cooperation, describing the conviction as a significant step forward in international efforts to tackle 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, a 40-year-old dual citizen and long-time resident of Lahti, Finland, was found guilty of inciting terrorism and participating in the activities of a terrorist organisation. The court, in a unanimous ruling by a three-judge panel, said Ekpa used his large social media following to incite violence in Nigeria between August 2021 and November 2024.
The court found that Ekpa played a key role in a militant separatist movement pushing for the secession of a Biafran state. According to the ruling, he not only spread inflammatory messages but also facilitated the supply of weapons, explosives, and ammunition to armed groups in Nigeria through a network of contacts.
Ekpa was also found to have used the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to encourage his followers to commit criminal acts in Nigeria, actions the court concluded had direct links to several violent incidents in the South-East.
Despite living in Finland and serving previously as a local councillor in Lahti, Ekpa’s remote orchestration of violence in Nigeria gave the Finnish court jurisdiction over his case.
His conviction is the latest development in Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to curb the activities of separatist groups, particularly those affiliated with the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which Ekpa claims to lead.