By Seun Ibiyemi
A fugitive drug kingpin, Ntoruka Emmanuel Chinedu, and former international footballer, Hunkarin Segun George, have been sentenced to a combined 24 years’ imprisonment by the Federal High Court in Lagos for unlawfully importing 7.050 kilograms of cocaine into Nigeria.
Justice Musa Kakaki delivered the judgment on Friday, convicting the duo on separate charges relating to the importation of cocaine following successful prosecution by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Chinedu was first arraigned in September 2015 on a one-count charge marked FHC/L/227C/2015 for importing 6.250 kilograms of cocaine into the country.
Although he pleaded not guilty and was granted bail, he absconded during the trial and remained on the run for nearly a decade.
The fugitive was eventually re-arrested by NDLEA operatives on June 24, 2025, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja, while allegedly attempting to smuggle an additional 800 grams of cocaine into Nigeria aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Addis Ababa.
Investigators said Chinedu, a frequent traveller involved in the clothing trade between Turkey and Nigeria, transited through Ethiopia, where he allegedly collected the cocaine from another individual before continuing his journey to Lagos.
Further investigations led to the arrest of Hunkarin, a former professional footballer who reportedly played for clubs in Brazil, while waiting at the airport car park to receive the illicit consignment.
According to the NDLEA, Hunkarin admitted during interrogation that he had previously trafficked drugs from Brazil to Ethiopia on two occasions while pursuing his football career.
The two men were subsequently arraigned on a three-count charge marked FHC/L/669C/2025 for conspiracy and unlawful importation of 800 grams of cocaine.
In his judgment, Justice Kakaki sentenced Chinedu to 20 years’ imprisonment without an option of fine for importing 6.250 kilograms of cocaine and an additional two years without an option of fine for conspiring with Hunkarin to import the 800 grams of cocaine.
Hunkarin was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for conspiracy, bringing the combined prison terms to 24 years.
During the trial, NDLEA prosecuting counsel, Adekunle Adebajo, reminded the court that Chinedu had earlier been arraigned before Justice Salihu Saudi in 2015 but fled after securing bail.
He urged the court to impose appropriate sanctions under the NDLEA Act, arguing that the facts and evidence before the court clearly established the offences.
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Counsel to the convicts, Benson Ndakara and Emefo Etudo, pleaded for leniency and requested the court to impose fines instead of custodial sentences.
However, the court rejected the plea after reviewing the evidence and applicable legal authorities.
Reacting to the judgment, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig.-Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.), described the conviction as a strong affirmation of the judiciary’s commitment to combating drug trafficking in Nigeria.
He also commended the NDLEA officers involved in the arrest, investigation and prosecution of the case, noting that Chinedu’s re-arrest after almost 10 years on the run demonstrated the agency’s determination to ensure that no drug trafficker escapes justice.
Marwa reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to working with the judiciary and other stakeholders to bring all drug traffickers to justice, irrespective of their status or how long they evade arrest.
