Simon Ekpa, the pro-Biafra activist convicted of terrorism offences in Finland, has appealed his six-year prison sentence, while Finnish prosecutors are seeking a longer term behind bars.
The appeal is expected to be heard by a Finnish court of appeal within the next three weeks, according to BBC Pidgin. The prosecutor handling the case has argued that the six-year sentence imposed on Ekpa was insufficient given the nature of the terrorism offences.
Ekpa was arrested by Finnish authorities in November 2024 and later prosecuted for inciting terrorism and participating in the activities of a terrorist group. In September 2025, the Päijät-Häme District Court convicted him and handed down a six-year prison sentence.
The Finnish court found that Ekpa had used his large social media following to inflame tensions in south-east Nigeria between August 2021 and November 2024. It described him as an influential figure in a militant separatist movement seeking the creation of an independent Biafra state.
Prosecutors had accused Ekpa of using his network to facilitate the supply of weapons, explosives and ammunition to groups in Nigeria. The court also found that he encouraged followers on X to commit crimes in the country.
Beyond the terrorism-related convictions, Ekpa was also found guilty of aggravated tax fraud and offences under Finland’s Attorneys Act. His appeal will now give the court an opportunity to review the convictions and sentence.
Ekpa, who has described himself as a disciple of Nnamdi Kanu, leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), has remained a controversial figure in Nigeria’s separatist politics. His activities and statements have repeatedly drawn attention from Nigerian and international authorities.
In March 2025, the Federal Government designated Ekpa as a “terrorism financier” and ordered measures against his alleged financial network. The forthcoming appeal could therefore have wider implications for the ongoing legal and political controversy surrounding his activities.
