Senator Gbenga Daniel, the President of the Nigerian-Finnish Association, has hailed the recent terrorism conviction of Biafra agitator Simon Ekpa by a Finnish court as a “watershed moment” that strengthens global cooperation against transnational terrorism.
In a powerful statement released on Tuesday, the former Governor of Ogun State and current Senator representing Ogun East commended the Finnish government and the Päijät-Häme District Court for their “resolute and judicious” sentencing of Ekpa, who was handed a six-year prison term on Monday.
The court found Ekpa guilty of participating in a terrorist organisation and publicly inciting crimes for terrorist purposes, charges stemming from his activities, which included inciting violence and enforcing sit-at-home orders in South-Eastern Nigeria through fear and intimidation.
Speaking in his capacity as head of the bilateral association, Senator Daniel stated that the verdict transcends a mere Finnish legal proceeding, calling it “a powerful message to the world that no nation is an island, and the tentacles of terrorism, wherever they are planned and executed from, will be severed by the collective will of civilised nations.”
He emphasized that Ekpa’s actions were not legitimate political advocacy but acts of terrorism that have “led to the loss of countless Nigerian lives and the destruction of property,” crippling economic activity and terrorizing peaceful citizens.
The Senator framed the ruling as a significant leap forward in Nigeria-Finland relations, moving beyond “diplomatic pleasantries” into the realm of “tangible, impactful cooperation.”
“This act of solidarity will undoubtedly be remembered as a cornerstone of our mutual trust and a catalyst for even greater collaboration in justice, security, and economic sectors,” Daniel said.
Crucially, the statement addressed Nigeria’s domestic sovereignty, noting that the Finnish decision sends an “unequivocal message to all who would threaten the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Nigeria from abroad.” Daniel reaffirmed that the unity of Nigeria is “non-negotiable” and a “settled matter.”
He drew a clear distinction between the right to free speech and the criminal act of incitement to violence, praising the Finnish judiciary for not condemning a cause, but “a method: the method of terrorism, which is an affront to humanity itself.”
Concluding on behalf of the Nigerian-Finnish Association and as a serving Senator, Daniel extended “deepest gratitude that their commitment to due process has provided “a measure of solace to the victims of violence in Nigeria and has strengthened the fabric of international law.”
