Prosecutor want more prison sentence for Simon Ekpa wey dey appeal im six-year jail sentence

Biafra separatist leader, Simon Ekpa, wey dey serve six years jail term for terrorism don enta courtroom for Finland to appeal di District Court decision wey sentence am.

Di Päijät-Häme District Court on Monday, 1 September 2025, bin sentence Ekpa to six years for prison sake of terrorism offences, among oda tins.

According to di court document, di 40-year-old former Lahti municipal politician bin participate for activities of terrorist group, incite di public to commit crime for terrorist purposes, engage for aggravated tax fraud and di provisions of di Lawyers Act.

For di terrorism offences, court say Ekpa bin attempt to promote di independence of di so-called Biafra region for south-eastern Nigeria by illegal means between August 2021 and November 2024.

Meanwhile, Ekpa dey continue to deny any wrongdoing. E admit say e establish di Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE) and say na im be di prime minister of di organisation.

However, Ekpa say di methods wey di movement bin use no meet di criteria for terrorist crimes.

Di prosecutor dey demand more prison sentence for Ekpa for di Court of Appeal dan wetin di District Court sentence am to last year.

Di Court of Appeal go hear di appeal ova di next three weeks.

Who be Simon Ekpa?

Simon Ekpa bin start out as talented athlete wey bin represent Nigeria for international competitions.

E bin represent Nigeria for di 2003 Africa U20 Championships, competing for di 100m race, long jump and triple jump wia e win silver medal.

Na dis talent carry am go Europe, wia tori be say e meet one talent scout for Finland wey convince am to switch allegiance to di kontri.

Ekpa, now a Finland passport holder, compete for di Finnish Indoor Championships for February 2009, and di Helsinki 4 Athletics GP for August of di same year wia e win di 100 metres race wit personal best of 11.10 seconds.

But a bad knee injury later make am abandon sports.

E settle for Lahti region wia e meet im wife Marianne Säkäjärvi and dem get one son bifor di marriage end.

Im journey to politics for Finland start for 2012 according to wetin e tell tori pipo for one interview for March 2024.

Ekpa bin meet one man Ben Zyskowicz during one municipal election campaign for Lahti market, and na dia discussion make am get interest for politics.

E bin serve as chairman of di playground Board for im Lahti region.