The Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has sentenced a 30-year-old man, Nkereuwem Felix Effiong, to life imprisonment for his role in the kidnapping of High Court Judge, Justice Joy Unwana.
Justice Unwana was abducted on December 18, 2023, alongside her driver, Idorenyin Ekanem, at about 8 p.m. along the Okobo–Esuk Inwang–Ndon Ebom Road.
During the attack, her police orderly, ThankGod Ekanem, was shot and killed, while the judge and her driver were held captive for five harrowing days before regaining their freedom.
Effiong, a native of Ikot Ekwere in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area, was arraigned on a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, membership of a terrorist group, kidnapping, and concealment of information under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The case, filed by the State Security Service (SSS), detailed the operations of a gang known as the “Bling Bling Marine Strike Force,” allegedly led by one Ubong Effiong, alias “Condiment,” and others still at large.
Although Effiong pleaded guilty to all four counts, the court initially entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf on the kidnapping charge due to the gravity of the offence.
Throughout the trial, he was represented by the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, following the court’s intervention when he appeared without legal counsel.
In his confessional statement, Effiong admitted joining the gang in November 2023 and participating in three kidnapping operations, including that of Justice Unwana.
He disclosed that the gang received N25 million as ransom for the judge’s release, from which he personally received N300,000.
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He also admitted involvement in the abduction of a pastor in Oron and another victim, whose family paid N5 million for his release.
Prosecutors told the court that the gang operated across several local government areas in Akwa Ibom State, using Esong Inwang Beach in Uruan as a base.
Effiong was arrested on July 4, 2024, along Ikot Ekpene Road in Uyo after months of investigation into the gang’s activities.
Delivering judgment on February 23, 2026, Justice Chigozie Sergius Onah found Effiong guilty on three counts, holding that the prosecution had proven its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The court sentenced him to 25 years imprisonment for conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism, 20 years for membership of a terrorist group, and life imprisonment for kidnapping.
He was, however, discharged and acquitted on the fourth count relating to concealment of information.
The life sentence — the most severe penalty imposed — ensures that Effiong will remain behind bars for the rest of his natural life, subject to the provisions of the law.
The ruling marks a significant milestone in the state’s efforts to combat kidnapping and terrorism, reinforcing the judiciary’s resolve to uphold justice and deter violent crimes against public officials and citizens alike.