AI-generated image falsely depicts Simon Ekpa…

A viral image circulating on X has falsely claimed to show Simon Ekpa, the self-acclaimed prime minister of the Biafra Republic Government in Exile, celebrating a court victory in Finland. The image, which depicts Ekpa raising his hands in a courtroom, was shared with a caption suggesting justice had prevailed for the figure.

What happened

In August 2026, an X user posted an image alleging that Simon Ekpa was captured in a celebratory moment during a court appearance. The post gained significant traction, accumulating over 80 reposts and 400 likes. However, investigations confirmed the image was a fabrication.

Simon Ekpa, an Autopilot faction leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), was arrested in Finland in November 2024 on charges related to terrorism and incitement. Following a four-month trial, he was sentenced to six years in prison in September 2025 and faced the confiscation of his assets.

To verify the authenticity of the viral image, fact-checkers utilized two distinct AI detection tools. DeepAI’s AI Image Detector identified the image as having a 91 percent probability of being AI-generated, while the tool 'Is It AI' returned a 99 percent probability. Furthermore, a visual inspection of the image revealed an indicator at the bottom confirming its AI origin. There is no evidence that the photo depicts an actual courtroom proceeding, and the claim remains misleading as it attempts to misrepresent the legal status of the individual involved.