The Federal Government has indicated it may pursue the repatriation of Simon Ekpa to Nigeria after he was handed a six-year prison sentence in Finland for terrorism-linked offences.
On Monday, the Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland sentenced the Nigerian-born Finnish citizen to six years behind bars for terrorism-related crimes and other violations.
Ekpa, a 40-year-old former municipal councilor from Lahti, was found guilty on several counts, including involvement with a terrorist organisation, incitement to commit terrorist acts, aggravated tax evasion, and breaches of the Lawyers Act.
The court also ruled that he remain in detention.
The judgment noted that between August 2021 and November 2024, Ekpa sought to advance the independence of the so-called Biafra region in Nigeria’s southeast through unlawful activities.
“He used social media to gain a politically influential position and took advantage of the confusion within a key separatist movement in Nigeria to play a significant role in it,” the court statement stated as reported by BBC News pidgin.
In an interview with The PUNCH on Monday, the Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, suggested that the Federal Government might consider pursuing Ekpa’s repatriation.
When questioned on whether Nigeria planned to seek Ekpa’s return after his prison sentence, Idris said, “The Nigerian government will assess the situation and take decisions in the best interest of the country.”
In the same vein, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), stated that additional actions would follow after the judgment is formally examined.
“We commend the Finnish authorities for supporting Nigeria in the fight against insecurity and see this as a signal of future collaboration.
“Appropriate further actions will be taken upon receipt and study of a copy of the court’s judgment,” the statement read.