FG Hails Ekpa’s Conviction as a Big Win in Fight Against Terror

By: Oluwaseun Lawal

The Federal Government is celebrating. Simon Ekpa, a key figure in a militant separatist group, has been convicted and sentenced to six years in prison by a Finnish court.

The Päijät-Häme District Court found Ekpa guilty of several serious charges — from being part of a terrorist group to inciting crimes for terrorist purposes, aggravated tax fraud, and breaking the Lawyers Act.

Mohammed Idris, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, took to X (formerly Twitter) on Monday to call the verdict “a major victory for the Nigerian people in the collective fight against terror.”

The court’s decision came after weeks of hearings from late May to June 2025. Judges agreed that Ekpa helped arm fighters with weapons and explosives, and used social media to encourage violence back home in Nigeria.

Ekpa, however, denies all the charges. The court has ordered he stays in custody, but the verdict isn’t final — it can still be appealed.

Ekpa was arrested in December 2024 after Finnish authorities accused him of spreading separatist propaganda and stirring violence online.

For now, the FG sees this as a step forward in tackling terrorism and sending a strong message.