Nigerian separatist leader Simon Ekpa has been sentenced to six years in prison by a Finnish court for terrorism, tax fraud, and an ethical violation.
Ekpa, who lives in Finland, heads the Indigenous Peoples of Biafra (IPOB) group, which has been allegedly responsible for killings and abductions of hundreds of people in Nigeria’s south-eastern region.
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The Finnish court said on Monday that Ekpa was sentenced to prison for participating in the activities of a terrorist group, public incitement to commit a crime for terrorist purposes, aggravated tax fraud, and violating the provisions of the Lawyers Act.
The court said he pushed for the independence of a separatist region in Nigeria through “illegal means” and “equipped the groups with weapons, explosives, and ammunition through his contact network.”
In 2024, the Nigerian military declared Ekpa wanted as part of nearly 100 people sought on charges of terrorism. After his arrest in Finland, the Nigerian government sought his extradition.