Finland’s Court of Appeal has reduced the prison sentence of Nigerian-Finnish separatist figure Simon Ekpa from six years to four years after reviewing his terrorism-related conviction.
According to a report by BBC News Pidgin published on October 15, 2026, the appeal court upheld the lower court’s finding that Ekpa was guilty of terrorism-related offences. However, the judges reduced the length of his sentence after considering the circumstances surrounding the case.
Ekpa, who leads the Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE), has been associated with the campaign for an independent Biafran state in southeastern Nigeria.
Why Finland’s appeal court reduced Ekpa’s sentence
The Päijät-Häme District Court sentenced Ekpa to six years in prison on September 1, 2025. He later appealed, arguing through his lawyers that the punishment was excessive.
His legal team maintained that his activities were connected to the political struggle for Biafra rather than an intention to promote terrorism. They also argued that international humanitarian law, rather than Finland’s national terrorism legislation, should apply to his case.
Prosecutors took a different position. They asked the appeal court to increase the sentence, arguing that the original six-year term did not adequately reflect the seriousness of the offences.
The appeal court ultimately upheld the conviction but reduced the sentence to four years.
Court examines activities linked to southeastern Nigeria
In its earlier ruling, the district court found that Ekpa had participated in a terrorist organisation and publicly encouraged people to commit crimes for terrorist purposes.
The court also concluded that he had used his substantial social media following to fuel tensions in southeastern Nigeria between August 2021 and November 2024.
During the appeal, the judges considered the security situation in the region. According to the report, they acknowledged that conditions in eastern Nigeria resembled a civil war but said they did not meet the legal definition of one.
Finnish police investigated the case in cooperation with Nigerian authorities.
When could Simon Ekpa leave prison?
The BBC Pidgin report said the reduced sentence could mean Ekpa regains his freedom by September 2029, rather than 2031.
However, the final release date depends on how the sentence is calculated and whether further legal proceedings affect the outcome.
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The appeal court’s decision is not final. Prosecutors may challenge the ruling before Finland’s Supreme Court, the country’s highest court for criminal matters.
The report also said some of Ekpa’s supporters attended the appeal hearing wearing T-shirts bearing his image and the hashtag #FreeSimonEkpa.
Who is Simon Ekpa?
Ekpa previously competed as an athlete and represented Nigeria at the 2003 African Junior Athletics Championships. He took part in sprinting and jumping events and reportedly won a silver medal.
He later moved to Finland, where he continued his athletics career before a knee injury brought it to an end.
His involvement in Finnish politics began in 2012, according to an interview he gave in 2024. He later served on local administrative boards in the Lahti region and was associated with Finland’s National Coalition Party.
Ekpa subsequently became a prominent figure in the Biafran separatist movement through his online activities and leadership of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile.
The latest appeal ruling reduces his prison term, but the case may continue if prosecutors pursue a further appeal.
