Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Carmen Diego
In a landmark ruling that marked one of the most significant judicial responses to kidnapping and terrorism-related crime in southern Nigeria, a Federal High Court sitting in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, has sentenced 30-year-old Nkereuwem Felix Effiong to life imprisonment for his role in the notorious abduction of a serving High Court judge. The judgment is being widely hailed as a major victory for law enforcement authorities and a strong deterrent to kidnapping syndicates operating in the Niger Delta region.
The court’s judgment was delivered on Monday, February 23, 2026, by Justice Chigozie Sergius Onah. Effiong was convicted on multiple counts under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022, including conspiracy, membership of a terrorist group, and kidnapping for ransom. He received a life sentence for the kidnapping of the judge, 25 years’ imprisonment for conspiracy to commit terrorism, and 20 years for membership of a terrorist organisation. He was discharged and acquitted on the fourth charge of concealing information about the group’s activities.
The high-profile case traces back to the abduction of Hon. Justice Joy Unwana, a sitting judge of the Akwa Ibom State High Court, and her driver, Idorenyin Ekanem, on December 18, 2023. The pair were intercepted along the Okobo–Esuk Inwang–Ndon Ebom Road in Akwa Ibom. During the attack, the judge’s police orderly, ThankGod Ekanem, was shot dead by the kidnappers, intensifying public outrage and putting enormous pressure on security agencies to secure the victims’ release and bring the perpetrators to justice.
Effiong was arrested more than six months later, on July 4, 2024, by operatives of the State Security Service (SSS) while on Ikot Ekpene Road in Uyo. Following his apprehension, he made a confessional statement that became crucial evidence in court. In it, he admitted that he was a member of a notorious criminal group known as the “Bling Bling Marine Strike Force,” led by an individual identified only as Ubong Effiong, alias “Condiment,” who remains at large. Effiong acknowledged involvement in three major kidnapping operations, including the abduction of Justice Unwana.
According to statements presented at trial, the gang collected a ransom of ₦25 million from the family of Justice Unwana for her release. Effiong confessed to having received ₦300,000 as his share from that operation. He also admitted to kidnapping a pastor from The Apostolic Church in Oron as well as another individual whose family paid ₦5 million, receiving ₦100,000 and ₦50,000 respectively for those offences.
Effiong told investigators that the gang’s operational methods included using mini-buses to carry out abductions and occasionally targeting vulnerable locals, including fishermen, to burden communities and coerce ransom payments. Court records noted that his involvement spanned several local government areas, including Uruan, Nsit-Atai, Udung Uko, Okobo and Oron, with a base of operations at Esong Inwang Beach in Uruan LGA.
The prosecution was brought by the State Security Service (SSS), Uyo, and Effiong was represented by counsel from the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria, after he initially appeared without legal representation. The court emphasised that due process was upheld throughout the trial, including the entry of a plea of not guilty on his behalf for the kidnapping count due to the severity of the potential punishment.
Justice Onah’s ruling underscored the gravity of the offences and the clear evidence presented by the prosecution. The life sentence reflects the court’s view of the abduction of a judicial officer — a crime not only against individual victims but an attack on the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary. The judge described the sentencing as a firm stance against kidnapping and terrorism, sending a stern message to criminal networks engaged in such activities.
Observers have pointed out that kidnapping remains one of Nigeria’s most pervasive security challenges, affecting public officials, private citizens and religious leaders alike. Cases involving judges are particularly troubling to the public because they strike at the foundations of civic order and the independence of judicial institutions. This conviction is likely to feature in future discussions about how Nigeria’s legal system confronts organised crime and protects citizens and public servants.
The kidnapping and killing of a police orderly in the same incident further highlighted the severity of the threat posed by criminal gangs. It prompted combined efforts by national security agencies, including the SSS, to dismantle kidnapping rings that had proliferated across coastal and rural areas of the state.
While Effiong’s sentencing marks a significant judicial milestone, several key elements of the case remain unresolved. The alleged leader of the gang, Ubong Effiong, alias Condiment, was not in custody at the time of sentencing and remains a fugitive. Security agencies have reiterated their commitment to pursuing all members of the gang and dismantling their networks to prevent further attacks.
The verdict has been welcomed by many within Akwa Ibom State and beyond, who see it as a sign that the judiciary and security apparatus can work effectively to address violent crime. Yet, this case also underscores the broader challenge Nigeria faces in providing security and justice in regions where organised criminal groups exploit socioeconomic vulnerabilities.
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