A Finnish Court of Appeal has reduced the prison sentence of pro-Biafran agitator Simon Ekpa from six years to four years while upholding his convictions on terrorism-related charges, according to a report by Finnish public broadcaster Yle on Thursday, October 15, 2026.

The court upheld the Päijät-Häme District Court’s finding that Ekpa participated in a terrorist organisation and publicly incited crimes for terrorist purposes, although the appeal resulted in a shorter prison term.

Also read: Osun police arrest 45-year-old man over alleged child defilement

According to Yle, the court considered the circumstances surrounding Ekpa’s activities in south-eastern Nigeria, where separatist efforts to establish an independent Biafran state have contributed to prolonged tensions.

The appeal ruling is not final and may still be challenged before a higher court.

Yle reported that the case concerned Ekpa’s activities between August 2021 and November 2024, during which prosecutors alleged that he used his substantial social media following to encourage criminal acts linked to the Biafran separatist movement.

The district court had found him guilty of participating in a terrorist organisation and publicly inciting crimes for terrorist purposes.

In its report on the appeal ruling, Yle said the court considered the situation in the Biafra region to closely resemble a civil war, although it did not meet the legal definition of one.

Ekpa had argued during the proceedings that his involvement in the political turmoil in south-eastern Nigeria was not motivated by terrorist intent.

The prosecutor also appealed the original sentence, arguing that the six-year prison term did not adequately reflect the seriousness of the offences.

Despite the competing appeals, the Court of Appeal reduced the sentence to four years while maintaining the terrorism-related convictions.

The appeal ruling follows Ekpa’s conviction in September 2025, when the Päijät-Häme District Court sentenced him to six years in prison for terrorism-related offences and other crimes.

The earlier judgment also found him guilty of aggravated tax fraud and violating provisions of Finland’s Lawyers Act, according to reports on the case.

The court further found that he had supplied armed groups with weapons, explosives and ammunition through his network of contacts and encouraged followers on X, formerly Twitter, to commit crimes in Nigeria.

Ekpa denied the charges during his trial.

His arrest in Finland in November 2024 followed investigations into alleged activities connected to the campaign for an independent Biafran state.

Ekpa moved from Nigeria to Finland in 2007 and is a long-term resident of Lahti, where he previously served on the city council as a representative of Finland’s National Coalition Party.

He became prominent among some supporters of the Biafran separatist cause through his online activities and advocacy for the independence of south-eastern Nigeria.

Biafra declared independence in 1967, triggering a civil war that lasted until 1970, when the secessionist bid ended.

The conflict remains a significant chapter in Nigeria’s history, while contemporary separatist agitation has continued to generate security and political concerns.

Although the Court of Appeal has reduced Ekpa’s sentence, the decision is not yet final, according to the report.

The case may proceed to a higher court if a further appeal is allowed.

Also read: Man gets 18 months in jail for stealing girlfriend’s jewellery

The latest ruling marks a new stage in the legal proceedings against Ekpa in Finland, where authorities investigated allegations concerning his role in activities linked to separatist violence in Nigeria.