A Federal High Court in Lagos, has sentenced fugitive drug kingpin, Ntoruka Emmanuel Chinedu and former footballer, Segun George Hunkarin to a combined 24 years in prison for importing cocaine into Nigeria.
Justice Musa Kakaki handed down the judgment after finding both men guilty of offences linked to the unlawful importation of 7.050 kilogrammes of cocaine.
Chinedu was first arraigned in 2015 over the importation of 6.250 kilogrammes of cocaine.
Although he pleaded not guilty and was granted bail, he absconded during the trial and remained on the run for almost a decade.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) re-arrested him on June 24, 2025, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos, after he allegedly attempted to smuggle an additional 800 grammes of cocaine into Nigeria on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Addis Ababa.
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Investigators said Chinedu, who frequently travelled between Turkey and Nigeria for trading activities, collected the drug-laden luggage during a stopover in Addis Ababa before continuing to Lagos.
Further investigations led to the arrest of his alleged accomplice, former professional footballer Segun George Hunkarin, who was waiting at the airport to receive the consignment.
Hunkarin reportedly admitted during interrogation that he had trafficked drugs twice while playing football in Brazil.
The duo was subsequently arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on the importation of the 800 grammes of cocaine.
Justice Kakaki sentenced Chinedu to 20 years in prison without the option of a fine for the 2015 cocaine importation case and an additional two years for conspiring with Hunkarin in the latest offence, bringing his total jail term to 22 years.
Hunkarin was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for conspiracy, bringing the combined prison terms to 24 years.
During the trial, NDLEA prosecutor, Adekunle Adebajo urged the court to convict both defendants under the provisions of the NDLEA Act, while defence lawyers pleaded for leniency and requested fines instead of custodial sentences.
The court rejected the request and imposed prison terms without the option of a fine.
Reacting to the verdict, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (rtd.), commended the judiciary for the judgment, describing it as a strong message that drug traffickers would be held accountable regardless of how long they evade justice.
Marwa also praised NDLEA operatives for successfully tracking and re-arresting Chinedu nearly 10 years after he jumped bail, reaffirming the agency’s commitment to pursuing drug traffickers and strengthening collaboration with the judiciary to combat illicit drug trafficking in Nigeria.
