Finland court, Nigeria scared of Biafra independence – BRGIE vows to appeal Simon Ekpa’s sentence

The Simon Ekpa-led Biafra Republic Government in Exile has claimed that the Finland Court and Nigeria are scared of Biafra.

It said this was the reason for its leader, Simon Ekpa’s six-year jail term.

DAILY POST recalls that the Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland, a court on Monday, September 1, 2025, handed Ekpa a six-year imprisonment jail term for terrorism-related offences.

The sentence attracted reactions from the Nigerian government and Nigerians in the last 48 hours.

BRGIE has vowed to appeal the sentence on Ekpa.

The Acting Prime of BRGIE, Hon. Ogechukwu Nkere, disclosed this in an official statement on Thursday.

Nkere described the Finland Court judgement as a ‘biased conclusion of judicial authority controlled by pressure from above’.

It stated that judgment is devoid of clarity between legitimate political activism, global free speech and terrorism.

According to BRGIE, Ekpa was convicted by the Finnish court ‘primarily for his social media activities advocating for Biafran independence over decades of marginalisation post-Nigeria’s civil war.

BRGIE faulted the Finland court’s position that Ekpa’s online posts were ‘public incitement to commit crimes for terrorist purposes’.

According to the Biafra group, it disagreed with the Finnish court’s assertions that Ekpa “equipped groups with weapons, explosives, and ammunition” through his networks, noting that such a stance lacks circumstantial evidence and the rhetoric is influenced by pressure from the Nigerian government.

It said that it would mount pressure in Washington DC, United States of America, over Biafran independence.

According to the group, the court verdicts will be appealed, and it is assured that Ekpa will be freed.

It added that Biafrans should be happy because Ekpa’s sentence in Finland has placed the PM and Biafra independence on the world stage.

“Now that Europe understands clearly our case, we shall mount more pressure in Washington, DC. We will appeal this court verdict, & our prime minister will join us later, convicting the Biafra independence icon.

“Simon Ekpa Njoku is guilty of committing terrorism offences because of standing up for the voices of over 80 million Biafrans yearning for Biafra’s independence restoration is a shame to Finland’s integrity.

“BRGIE being the legal entity for Biafra independence wishes to tell biafrans globally that we have recorded another victory in european region, if you fight for independence and the country you are fighting against don’t gang up against you or get scared of you then it means you have not started yet.

“Nigeria got scared of biafra independence to the point that they have called on all international communities to stop biafrans abroad from hosting media discussions about Biafran independence.

“Mazi Nnamdi Kanu, a Biafra leader, was kidnapped in Kenya because of the fear of Nigeria against Biafra independence. Amnesty International recorded that over 150 peaceful IPOB members were killed in 2016 and over 1000 killed between 2023-2025, all these reports are available in the media.

“At this point, the Biafra independence declaration call has been heard in the European court; they are now aware of what Biafra means.

“Every Biafran should be happy that we have come this far.

“BRGIE PM, Simon Ekpa is just our voice and eye to the world, while Biafrans back home will restore Biafra fully – we are ready.

“Now that Europe understands our case clearly, we shall mount more pressure in Washington DC. BRGIE will appeal this court verdict, & our prime minister will join us later.

“The Päijät-Häme district court in Finland has sentenced Simon Ekpa, a former Lahti councillor, to six years in prison after convicting him of terrorism-related crimes, aggravated tax fraud, and breaching Finland’s Lawyers Act.

“The ruling, delivered on Monday 1 September, according to the court, adjudicated that Ekpa played a central role in promoting separatist violence in Nigeria’s Biafra region between August 2021 and November 2024.

“Judges concluded that he used his large following on social media to incite crimes with terrorist intent and to strengthen a movement seeking independence for Biafra.

“Where in this 21st century has a call for Biafran independence sovereignty become a terrorist act? Finland court assertions that Ekpa ‘equipped groups with weapons, explosives, and ammunition’ through his networks lack circumstantial evidence.

“This rhetoric is influenced by pressure from the Nigerian government, which has long sought to silence Biafran voices using the Nigerian court, police, navy, army, air force, civil defence, Ebubeagu, Fulani Islamic jihadist terrorist groups, Udokachi, Akunechemba, recruited Fulani vigilantes, senators, governors & community chiefs,” the group alleged.

It further claimed that, “There is no evidence of Ekpa ordering weapons during this trial; this alone exposes the reliability of the prosecution of our PM, Simon Ekpa.

“Charges of aggravated tax fraud and violating the lawyers’ act seemed tagged on him to accelerate the sentence to the happiness of the Nigerian government.

“Owing to the economic ties with Finland, it serves to drive attention from the main issue of why Simon Ekpa was taken to court, which was Biafra: whether advocating for self-determination and Biafra independence aggressively constitutes terrorism.

“Finland now prioritises their international relations with Nigeria, undermining the very democratic principles Finland claims to uphold.”

Finland court, Nigeria scared of Biafra independence – BRGIE vows to appeal Simon Ekpa’s sentence