A Finnish Court of Appeal has reduced Simon Ekpa’s prison sentence from six years to four years while upholding his convictions for terrorism-related offences.
In its ruling on Thursday, October 15, 2026, the East Finland Court of Appeal upheld the earlier verdict finding Ekpa guilty of participating in the activities of a terrorist group and publicly inciting crimes for terrorist purposes.
The court reduced his sentence after considering the circumstances surrounding the offences and the armed conflict in southeastern Nigeria. However, it rejected the argument that the conflict met the legal threshold for a civil war that would remove the basis for his terrorism convictions.
Ekpa was initially sentenced to six years in prison by the Päijät-Häme District Court in September 2025. The case was linked to activities aimed at establishing an independent Biafran state in southeastern Nigeria.
Although his prison term has been reduced, his terrorism convictions remain in place.