The Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi (SAN), has applauded the conviction of Simon Ekpa, a Nigerian-born separatist agitator, by a Finnish court.
In a unanimous ruling, the Päijät-Häme District Court in Finland on Monday sentenced the Nigerian-born Finnish to six years in prison for terrorism-related crimes and other offences.
According to the three-man panel of judges, Ekpa, 40, strove to promote the independence of the so-called Biafra region in southeastern Nigeria through illegal means between August 2021 and November 2024.
Fagbemi, in a statement hailing the court's decision, said it was an advancement in international collaboration against transnational crimes.
He said: “We received the good news of the conviction of Simon Ekpa by the Finnish court. His sentencing for terrorism and other related offences is a confirmation that he influenced and committed heinous crimes against the Nigerian people, especially in the South East.
“We see this as a signal of future partnership and would take appropriate further actions upon receipt and review of the court’s judgment,” added the AGF.
