Court Jails Simon Ekpa for Six Years Over Terrorism Incitement

A Finnish district court has sentenced Nigerian-born Finnish activist Simon Ekpa to six years in prison, finding him guilty of participating in the activities of a terrorist organisation and publicly inciting crimes for terrorist purposes.

The judgment, delivered by the Päijät-Häme District Court, capped a case built largely on Ekpa’s online calls linked to separatist violence in Nigeria’s South-East.

What the judges decided

The court concluded that, between August 2021 and November 2024, Ekpa used his social-media reach to urge violent acts and support groups it treated as terrorist organisations. The panel said his conduct met Finland’s terrorism thresholds even though many consequences unfolded in Nigeria, because he acted from Finnish territory.

Beyond the core terrorism counts, the court also entered convictions for aggravated tax fraud and violations of the Lawyers Act, which added to the overall sentence. Ekpa denied wrongdoing throughout the proceedings.

Finnish authorities detained Ekpa in late 2024 during a National Bureau of Investigation probe. Prosecutors brought terrorism charges in May 2025, with hearings running through June before the three-judge panel delivered a unanimous verdict. Prosecutors had sought a six-year term, which the court imposed.

Why Finland tried a case about Nigeria

Finnish law allows prosecutors to try offences committed from Finland even if harm occurs abroad. In this case, the court agreed that Ekpa coordinated and amplified calls for violence from within Finland, satisfying jurisdiction rules for terrorism and related offences.