A Federal High Court sitting in Uyo Akwa Ibom state capital has sentenced Nkereuwem Felix Effiong to life imprisonment for his role in the abduction of Justice Joy Unwana of Akwa Ibom State High Court two years ago .

Effiong, a native of Ikot Ekwere in Ibesikpo Asutan Local Government Area of the State, was convicted on three out of a four-count charge bordering on conspiracy, membership of a secret cult and kidnapping under the Terrorism (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.

It would be recalled that Justice Joy Unwana was abducted on 18th December, 2023 with her driver Idorenyin Ekanem at about 8pm along Okobo–Esuk Inwang–Ndon Ebom Road in Akwa Ibom State.

During the operations, the victims were held captive for five days while the judge’s Police orderly, ThankGod Ekanem, was shot dead.

The matter was brought to the Court by the State Security Service, SSS, Uyo as the prosecution.

Justice Nkereuwem said Upon his arraignment, the defendant had no legal representation which prompted the court to assign his case to the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria in line with the provisions of the law as the defendant pleaded guilty to all the charges .

However, he said the court entered a plea of not guilty on his behalf in respect of count three which bordered on kidnapping because of the weighty nature of the offence and the severity of the punishment attached to it.

Justice Nkereuwem explained that throughout the proceedings, the Legal Aid Council of Nigeria represented the defendant to ensured that all trial procedures were conducted in accordance with due process and the law.

He said during the trial, Effiong admitted participating in three kidnapping operations, including the abduction of a Apostolic Church in Oron and Justice Unwana.

He said the defendant further admitted that the gang received N25 million as ransom for the judge’s release as he personally received N300,000 for his share.

“We don’t use to cover our face. Before the woman judge was released, we received the sum of twenty five million Naira (N25m) as ransom from her 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 the ransom.”

“I also participated in another operation where we kidnapped a man whom the family later paid us the sum of five million Naira N5m and I was given the sum of fifty thousand Naira as my 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.

Delivering judgment , Justice Nkereuwem found Effiong guilty on counts one, two, and three, holding that the prosecution proved its case beyond reasonable doubt.

You are hereby sentenced to 25 years imprisonment on count one (conspiracy to commit acts of terrorism)

“20 years imprisonment on count two (membership of a terrorist group); and

“Life imprisonment on count three (kidnapping)” (The Sun)