Claims That Finnish Court Freed Simon Ekpa and Awarded $50,000 Compensation False

A viral claim circulating across Nigerian social media platforms, including Facebook and Instagram, alleging that a Finnish court has released pro-Biafra agitator Simon Ekpa and awarded him $50,000 in compensation for unlawful detention, is false.

The Viral Claim

The widely shared, copy-and-paste post, attributed to an unnamed judge, claimed:

* The Finnish court officially released Ekpa because the Nigerian government failed to appear in court to substantiate its allegations.

* Ekpa’s detention was declared “unlawful and politically motivated.”

* He was awarded $50,000 in compensation for illegal imprisonment.

Official Background and Verdict

The truth regarding Ekpa’s legal status is as follows:

* Conviction: On September 1, 2025, the Päijät-Häme district court in Finland sentenced Simon Ekpa to six years in prison for terrorism offences.

* Charges: The three-member judicial panel found him guilty of inciting terrorism and participating in the activities of a terrorist group, using his significant social media following to stoke tensions in Nigeria’s south-east between August 2021 and November 2024. He was also convicted of aggravated tax fraud and violating the attorneys’ act.

* Appeal Window: Under Finnish law, Ekpa had 30 days to file an appeal against the district court’s judgment, with a deadline of October 1, 2025.

Verification: A comprehensive search of credible Finnish media platforms and judicial reports as of October 22, 2025, revealed no report of any Finnish court ordering Ekpa’s release. Furthermore, there has been no public report that the matter has been heard by an appeal court since his conviction.

Verdict: The claim that a Finnish court has released Simon Ekpa and granted him $50,000 in compensation is FALSE.