FG hails Finnish court verdict on Simon Ekpa

The Federal Government of Nigeria has welcomed the judgment of the Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland, which on Monday sentenced Simon Ekpa, a self-styled pro-Biafra agitator, to six years’ imprisonment for terrorism-related offences.

In a statement issued by the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, the government described the ruling as a watershed moment — both for the victims of violence incited by Ekpa and his collaborators, and for the strengthening of bilateral ties between Nigeria and Finland.

“For years, Ekpa’s reckless incitement and orchestration of violence through IPOB terror activities unleashed unspeakable pain on Nigeria,” the minister said.

“Families were 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.”

According to the government, the Finnish court’s decision validates Nigeria’s long-standing position on the destructive role played by Ekpa and serves as a global warning to extremists.

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“By upholding the rule of law and ensuring that justice is served, the Finnish judiciary has not only vindicated Nigeria’s consistent position 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 statement added.

Reaffirming President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to safeguarding Nigeria, the statement stressed that the administration remains resolute in defending the country’s sovereignty. “We will continue to mobilize every resource — diplomatic, military, and judicial — to preserve the peace, unity, and territorial integrity of our country,” it read.

The government also urged individuals still following Ekpa’s directives to abandon violence. “Nigeria is big enough for all its people, but there can be no progress where violence and division prevail,” it said.

The statement further expressed gratitude to the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Armed Forces, intelligence services, the Federal Ministry of Justice, and the Nigeria Police for their sacrifices in defending the nation.

“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,” Idris concluded.