By Mark Orgu, News/Comments
In a ruling delivered on Monday, The Paijat-Hame District Court in Finland has found Simson Ekpa, the factional leader of the Outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) guilty of inciting terrorism and participating in the activities of a terrorist set. According to the three man- panel of judges, they said Ekpa’s “significant social media influence resulted ” to stoke tensions in the South-East region of Nigeria between August 2021 and November 2024, a Finnish newspaper, therefore he is thereby sentenced to six years imprisonment , Yle, reported.
The district court, as reported by Yle, further reiterated however that Ekpa supplied these groups with “weapons, explosives, and ammunition” through his network of contacts in the region, and that he was also found to have encouraged his followers on the social media platform X to “commit crimes” in Nigeria. Ekpa had denied all the charges in court, heading for an appeal in a higher court. Recall that Ekpa had moved to Finland in 2007 as an athlete.
Meanwhile, the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Prince Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, has commended Finland government, describing the sentencing as cheering and laudable. In a press release, the Minister said:
“We receive the good news of the conviction of the leader of the outlawed Indigenous People of Biafra, Simon Ekpa, by the Finnish court. His conviction for the charges of terrorism and other related offences filed against him by the Finnish government is a confirmation that Ekpa had influenced and committed heinous crimes against the Nigerian people, especially in the South East.”
“We commend the Finnish authorities for supporting Nigerian in the fight against insecurity and see this as a signal of future collaboration. Appropriate further actions would be taken upon receipt and understudying a copy of the judgement of the court.”
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