At last, justice smiles at a High Court Judge, Justice Joy Unwana who was kidnapped in Akwa Ibom in 2023 as court commits her kidnapper to life imprisonment
By Chinedu Oguh, Port Harcourt
The Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, has sentenced one Nkwereumen Felix Effiong, aged 30 to life imprisonment for his involvement in the kidnapping of Hon. Justice Joy Unwana, a High Court Judge.
Justice Unwana was abducted on 18th December, 2023, alongside her diver Idorenyin Ekanem at about 8pm along Okobo-Esuk Inwang-Nalon Ebom Road in Akwa Ibom State.
Tentacle gathered that during the operation, the judge’s police orderly, ThankGod Ekanem was shot dead, while the Judge and her driver were held captive for five days.
Effiong, a native of Ikot Ekwere in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area of the state was convicted on three out of four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, membership of a terrorist group, and kidnapping under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
The matter was brought to the court by the State Security Service (SSS), Uyo. Upon his arraignment, the defendant had no legal representation, prompting the court to assign the matter to the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria in line with the provisions of the law. Effiong pleaded guilty to all the four-count charge.
However, the court entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf in respect of court three, the kidnapping charge, owing to the grave nature of the offence and the severity of the punishment attached to it.
Throughout the proceedings, the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria represented the defendant and ensured that all trial procedures were conducted in accordance with due process and the law.
In the charge marked Federal Republic of Nigeria v Nkereuwem Felix Effiong, the prosecution alleged that the defendant conspired between November 2023 and May 2024 at Edong Inwang Beach in Uruan Local Government Area with one Ubong Effiong, alias “condiment”, Christopher Eyibio, Ezem Friday and others still at large to commit acts of terrorism.
The offence is contrary to and punishable under section 26 (1) of the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
In count two, the court heard that Effiong knowingly belonged to a terrorist group known as the “Bling Bling Marine Strike Force” headed by Ubong Effiong, alias “condiment”, contrary to section 25 (1) of the act.
Count three detailed the kidnapping of Justice Unwana and her driver and the killing of her police orderly during the attack, an offence punishable under section 24 (2) (b) of the Act.
Count four accused the defendant of concealing information about the activities and location of the kidnapping gang from security agencies, contrary to section 16 (1) (b) of the act.
In his confessional statement tendered in evidence, Effiong admitted joining the gang, also referred to as “Bling Bling Marine Strike Force” in November 2023 through a friend identified as Joseph alias “Akpa”.
He told investigators that the gang operated across Uyo, Uruam, Nsit Atai, Udung Uko, Okono and Oron Local Government Areas with a base at Esong Inwang Beach in Uruan.
Effiong admitted participating in three kidnapping operations including the abduction of Justice Unwana. He further disclosed that the gang received N25 million as ransom for the judge’s release and that he personally received N300,000 as his own share.
He also admitted involvement in the kidnapping of a pastor of the Apostolic Church in Oron and another victim whose family paid N5 million for his release.
“We don’t use to cover our face. Before the woman judge was released, we received the sum of Twenty Five Million Naira (N25,000,000) as ransom from the family. My own share from the ransom was Three Hundred Thousand Naira (N300,000)
“My second operation was the one where we kidnapped an Apostolic Church Pastor in Oron. I don’t know how much was paid before he was released, but I was paid the sum of One Hundred Thousand Naira as my own share of her ransom.
“I also participated in another operation where we kidnapped a man whom the family later paid us the sum of Five Million Naira and I was given the sum of N50,000 as my own share from the ransom”.
We usually use mini bus to carry out our operations. We also used to rob the locals and fishermen to make money”, Effiong said.
Tentacle further learnt that Effiong was arrested on 4th July, 2024, along Ikot-Ekpene Road in Uyo by operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) following months of investigation into the gang’s activities.
During the trial, the prosecution presented evidence linking him to the gang’s operations and its activities at Esong Inwang Beach.
Delivering his judgment, Justive Chigozie Sergius Onah found Effiong guilty on count one, two and three, holding that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.
The court sentenced him to 25 years imprisonment on count one (conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism) 20 years imprisonment on count two (membership of terrorist group) and life imprisonment on count three (kidnapping).
On count four, which bordered on concealment of information, the court discharged and acquitted the defendant.
The life sentence is the most severe of the penalties imposed and effectively ensures that Effiong will spend the rest of his natural life in prison, subject to the provisions of the law.
In a related development, Bayelsa State High Court was refused to grant the controversial bail application filed by two alleged high profile kidnappers, Emmanuel Charles Angasei and John Lyon Ike, infamously dubbed “celebrity kidnappers” for their flashy lifestyle before their arrest.
The case which has gripped public attention since the duo’s dramatic 2022 arrest took a dramatic twist when prison authorities at Okaka Meduim Correctional Centre outright rejected a court directive to release the suspects for medical re-examination at the Federal Medical Centre Yenagoa.
Presiding Judge, Justice Inekeide Eradiri of High Court 4, had ordered the move after defense counsel Anyibafekena Ebiki urged for bail on health grounds for this client Emmanuel Charles Angasei. The judge directed that examination take place under tight security, with officers from Operation Puff Adder, representatives of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and defense lawyers present.
Tentacle gathered that things change, when officials attempted to effect the order on Friday March 6, 2026, personnel reportedly stone walled the process, citing “wrong timing” and insufficient notice despite being shown a copy of the court order by DPP officials.
The development has sparked confusion and reservations among police operatives and judicial staff, who question the sudden health claims amid the suspects’ long detention.
Angasei and Ike were arrested in 2022 by operatives of operation Puff Adder led by CSP Chris Nwaogbo, for allegedly master minding the kidnapping of Danjuma Omieje, a staff of Premium Trust Bank (formerly Sterling Bank) the proprietor of LO337 Super Market and several prominent Igbogene businessmen in the state.
Their arrest was widely celebrated across Bayelsa, particularly due to Angasei’s social media notoriety he was known for flaunting wads of hard currency on Facebook, allegedly proceeds from ransom payment.
The suspects were arraigned on November 10, 2022 before the state High Court on charges of kidnapping and conspiracy to commit felony. The trail is one of the most state’s most talked-about criminal cases.
