Nigerian-Finnish Association President, Gbenga Daniel has commended the verdict of a Finnish court, which pronounced a six-year prison sentence to Simon Ekpa over terrorism charges.
Applauding the Finnish government and Päijät-Häme District Court, the association’s president, and former Ogun State governor, Mr Daniel, described the ruling as a “resolute and judicious” verdict.
Mr Daniel said the judgement was a “watershed moment”, while expressing confidence that “the tentacles of terrorism will be severed by the collective will of civilised nations.”
The former governor stated that the verdict was indicative of a milestone in Nigeria-Finland relations, as cooperation between the two countries highlights “tangible, impactful” and a “cornerstone of mutual trust.”
Mr Daniel said the court outcome reinforces the message that Nigeria’s sovereignty and unity is “non-negotiable”.
He further expressed gratitude to the Finnish authorities, for providing “solace to the victims of violence in Nigeria.”
Earlier, a district court in Finland sentenced Mr Ekpa, a kingpin of the proscribed Indigenous People of Biafra, to six years in prison for terrorism.