The Federal High Court of Nigeria in Calabar has mandated the detention of seven individuals linked to the abduction and demise of Professor Ekanem Phillip Ephraim, along with other purported criminal actions in Cross River State.
Judge Rosemary Dugbo Oshoghorie ordered the remand of Patrick Essien Etim, also referred to as Pato; Etim Effiong Eyo, known as IT-Can-Happen; Anthony Essien Etim, identified as Humble; Bassey Anthigha Asuquo; Isaac Uwem Ekpenyong, called Kemzy Stunt; Ekpenyong Effiok Eyo, known as Yobo; and Imoh John Udofa, referred to as Imopart, at the Nigerian Correctional Centre, Afokang.
The order was issued subsequent to a Motion Ex-parte submitted by the Department of State Services in case number FHC/CA/M10/26 involving the State Security Service and Patrick Etim along with six others, requesting the court’s authorization to detain the suspects while awaiting legal counsel, as reported by The Guardian.
Justice Oshoghorie approved the application and postponed the matter to April 21, 2026, for additional proceedings pending the Director of Public Prosecutions’ advisory on the case.
The individuals were apprehended by DSS operatives between December 2025 and January 2026 after investigations into purported abduction activities and associated offenses in Calabar and neighboring areas.
Investigators connected the suspects to the abduction and demise of Professor Ephraim from the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, along with the kidnappings of Mrs. Eme Udeme Daniel, Dr. Roland Ipuole, Francis Kibe, and James Osim.
They are under investigation for the purported damage of public electrical infrastructure in the Calabar metropolitan.
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