FG commends Finland as Simon Ekpa is convicted

By Isa Isawade

The Federal Government of Nigeria has commended the Finland government over what it described as “landmark judgment of the Päijät-Häme District Court”, which on Monday sentenced Simon Ekpa, a self-styled pro-Biafra agitator, to six years’ imprisonment for terrorism offences.

This commendation was contained in a press release signed by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris (fnipr) on Monday.

“This ruling stands as a watershed moment – not only for the countless innocent Nigerians whose lives and livelihoods have been brutally disrupted by the reign of terror incited and financed by Ekpa and his collaborators—but also for the strengthening of bilateral relations between Nigeria and Finland.

“For years, Ekpa’s reckless incitement and orchestration of violence through IPOB terror activities unleashed unspeakable pain: families shattered, businesses destroyed, children orphaned, and entire communities forced to live under fear.

“Hundreds of lives were lost, and many more maimed, in pursuit of a destructive and unlawful agenda that sought to undermine the peace, unity, and sovereignty of our nation.

“By upholding the rule of law and ensuring that justice is served, the Finnish judiciary has not only vindicated Nigeria’s consistent position on this matter but also sent a clear signal to extremists everywhere that the world is watching, and justice will catch up with those who seek to destabilize societies through terror.

“The Tinubu administration remains unshakable in its resolve to defend Nigeria’s sovereignty and protect the dignity of every citizen. We will continue to mobilize every resource, diplomatic, military, and judicial, to preserve the peace, unity, and territorial integrity of our country.

“We urge all those who, under the misguidance of Simon Ekpa and others, have taken up arms against their fatherland to immediately lay them down and embrace the path of peace. Nigeria is big enough for all its people, but there can be no progress where violence and division prevail,” Mohammed said.

The Nigerian government also expressed gratitude to the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Nigerian Armed Forces, the security and intelligence agencies, and the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Nigeria Police, “whose sacrifices, courage, and commitment continue to secure our homeland in the face of daunting challenges. Their service and the resilience of the Nigerian people remain the backbone of our enduring unity.

“As we mark this turning point, the Federal Government enjoins all Nigerians, at home and abroad, to work together for national unity, peace, and security of the country.”

The court in Päijät-Häme delivered the judgement on Monday, convicting Ekpa on charges bordering on incitement to terrorism, dissemination of terrorist propaganda, and support for violent activities.

Ekpa, the self-styled Prime Minister of the self-proclaimed Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE), has been a controversial figure in the separatist movement.

He is known for issuing “sit-at-home” directives in Nigeria’s South-East region and ordering violent attacks, including the killing of police officers in the region.

His activities have long drawn criticism from both Nigerian authorities and the outlawed mainstream Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), which has repeatedly disowned him.

According to IPOB, Ekpa was never its member but an infiltrator whose actions undermined the group’s non-violent struggle and constituted a dent on its image.