Finnish prosecutors have asked the Court of Appeal to impose a longer prison sentence on Biafra separatist leader Simon Ekpa as he challenges the six-year jail term handed to him for terrorism-related offences.
Ekpa, who is currently serving the sentence in Finland, was convicted by the Päijät-Häme District Court of several offences, including participation in the activities of a terrorist group, incitement of the public to commit crimes for terrorist purposes, aggravated tax fraud and violations of the Lawyers Act.
The 40-year-old former Lahti municipal politician was sentenced on September 1, 2025, after the court found that he had sought to promote the independence of the self-declared Biafra region in southeastern Nigeria through illegal means between August 2021 and November 2024.
Finnish prosecutors have now appealed the sentence, arguing that Ekpa should receive a punishment longer than the six years imposed by the District Court.
The Court of Appeal is expected to hear the case over the next three weeks as Ekpa continues his legal challenge against both his conviction and sentence.
Ekpa has consistently denied wrongdoing. While admitting that he established the Biafra Republic Government in Exile (BRGIE) and served as its prime minister, he has argued that the methods employed by the organisation did not satisfy the legal requirements for terrorism offences.
The case has attracted significant attention because of Ekpa’s activities linked to the Biafra separatist movement and the allegations surrounding his use of his organisation to pursue the independence of southeastern Nigeria.
Before becoming a prominent figure in the Biafra separatist movement, Ekpa had a career in athletics and represented Nigeria at international competitions.
He competed for Nigeria at the 2003 African U20 Championships, taking part in the 100 metres, long jump and triple jump events, and won a silver medal.
Ekpa later moved to Europe and, after obtaining Finnish citizenship, switched his sporting allegiance to Finland.
In February 2009, he competed at the Finnish Indoor Championships. Later that year, in August, he won the 100-metre event at the Helsinki 4 Athletics Grand Prix, recording a personal best of 11.10 seconds.
His athletics career was eventually cut short by a knee injury.
Ekpa subsequently settled in the Lahti region of Finland, where he met Marianne Säkäjärvi. The pair had a son before their marriage later ended.
His involvement in Finnish politics began around 2012, according to an interview he gave in March 2024.
Ekpa said his interest in politics developed after he met Finnish politician Ben Zyskowicz during a municipal election campaign at a market in Lahti.
He later became chairman of a playground board in the Lahti region before his political activities increasingly became intertwined with the Biafra separatist movement.
His activities connected to the Biafra Republic Government in Exile eventually drew the attention of Finnish authorities and resulted in investigations that culminated in his prosecution.
The District Court subsequently found him guilty of terrorism-related offences and other crimes and imposed the six-year prison sentence that he is now challenging.
With the prosecution seeking an even longer sentence and Ekpa fighting to overturn his conviction and punishment, the forthcoming Court of Appeal proceedings could determine the next major chapter in the legal battle surrounding the controversial separatist leader.