The President of the Nigerian-Finnish Association and former Ogun State governor, Otunba Gbenga Daniel, has hailed the six-year prison sentence handed to Simon Ekpa by a Finnish court, describing it as a decisive blow against terrorism.
Ekpa, a self-acclaimed leader of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was convicted by the Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland on terrorism-related charges after months of trial.
Reacting to the judgement on Tuesday, Daniel said the ruling was not only “resolute and judicious” but also a “watershed moment” in the global fight against violent extremism.
“This verdict demonstrates that the tentacles of terrorism will be severed by the collective will of civilised nations.
“It is a relief to victims of violence in Nigeria who have suffered from the consequences of Ekpa’s incitements,” the former governor said.
Daniel added that the court’s decision reflects a milestone in Nigeria-Finland relations, noting that the cooperation between both countries underscores “tangible, impactful and enduring mutual trust.”
He further stressed that Nigeria’s sovereignty and unity remain “non-negotiable,” urging Nigerians to draw lessons from the ruling as a clear statement that violent agitation and terrorism would no longer be tolerated.
Ekpa, who has been a key figure in IPOB’s separatist campaign from Finland, was accused of masterminding violent sit-at-home orders and inciting attacks that destabilised communities in Nigeria’s South-East.
The Finnish court’s sentence, Daniel noted, sends a strong message to agitators and their sponsors that “the rule of law, wherever it is upheld, will always prevail over terror.”
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