The Federal Government has hinted at the possibility of requesting the repatriation of Simon Ekpa to Nigeria following his conviction and six-year jail sentence in Finland for terrorism-related offences.
A Finnish court in Päijät-Häme on Monday found the Nigerian-born Finnish national guilty of multiple charges, including terrorism, incitement to violence, aggravated tax fraud, and violations of the Lawyers Act. The court ordered him to remain in custody.
Between 2021 and 2024, Ekpa reportedly sought to advance the Biafra separatist agenda through violent means, equipping armed groups with weapons and urging his followers on social media to commit crimes in Nigeria.
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, told The Punch that the government would take “decisions in the best interest of the country” regarding Ekpa’s possible repatriation. Similarly, Attorney-General of the Federation, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), said Nigeria would study the judgment before deciding next steps.
The Tinubu administration welcomed the verdict, hailing it as a victory for the global fight against terrorism and a boost for Nigeria–Finland relations. Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, also described the ruling as a landmark moment in the global effort against extremism.
Meanwhile, the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) distanced itself from Ekpa, stressing that he was never part of its leadership and had created parallel groups such as the “Biafra Government in Exile.” IPOB’s lawyer, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, said the conviction was a warning against fraud and violence disguised as self-determination.
The Coalition of South-East Youth Leaders urged all parties to embrace peace and dialogue, while warning youths against being lured into violence by false promises of armed liberation.
