Finnish court to hear Simon Ekpa’s appeal in three weeks

Simon Ekpa, the self-acclaimed disciple of the Indigenous People of Biafra leader, Nnamdi Kanu, has appealed his six-year jail term for terrorism offences in Finland, according to a BBC Pidgin report.

The report said the Finnish Court of Appeal is expected to hear Ekpa’s appeal within the next three weeks.

Diaspora Tales learnt that the prosecutor handling the case argued that the six-year sentence imposed on Ekpa was inadequate for the terrorism offences.

Ekpa was arrested by Finnish authorities in November 2024 and subsequently charged with inciting terrorism and participating in the activities of a terrorist group.

In September 2025, the Päijät-Häme District Court sentenced him to six years in prison after finding him guilty of the offences.

The court said Ekpa had used his significant social media following to incite tensions in the South-East between August 2021 and November 2024.

 It also found that he was an influential member of a militant separatist movement seeking to establish a Biafra state and had supplied weapons, explosives and ammunition to groups through his network of contacts in the region.

The court further held that Ekpa encouraged his followers on X to commit crimes in Nigeria, and he was convicted of aggravated tax fraud and violating provisions of the Attorneys Act.

He was also designated a “terrorism financier” of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra by the Federal Government in March 2025.

Ayoola Olasupo is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with six years of experience reporting on metro, crime, human-interest interviews, politics, and feature stories. He focuses on amplifying underrepresented voices and producing stories that promote justice, empathy, and informed public dialogue. Ayoola’s reporting reflects practical newsroom experience, editorial insight, and a dedication to accurate, impactful, and socially conscious journalism.

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