Ex-International Footballer and Fugitive Drug Lord Gets 24 Years for Cocaine Trade
The 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 delivered the ruling on multi-count charges related to international drug trafficking, highlighting a strict judicial stance against narcotics smuggling.
Chinedu received a 22-year sentence without the option of a fine, while co-conspirator Hunkarin was sentenced to two years in prison for conspiracy. These penalties reflect the court's refusal to grant leniency to individuals involved in high-profile illicit drug operations.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA)’s spokesperson Femi Babafemi said Chinedu was initially arraigned in September 2015 on a one-count charge of unlawfully importing 6.250 kilogrammes of cocaine.
Although granted bail, he absconded midway through his trial and remained on the run for nearly a decade.
The NDLEA re-arrested him on June 24, 2025, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, while attempting to smuggle another 800 grammes of cocaine into Nigeria aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Addis Ababa.
Investigations revealed that Chinedu had travelled from Turkey, transited through Ethiopia where he collected the drug consignment from another individual before flying into Lagos.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) apprehended former professional footballer Segun George Hunkarin in an airport car park while he was waiting to receive a shipment of cocaine. During interrogation, Hunkarin admitted to previously using his football career to traffic drugs from Brazil to Ethiopia on two occasions.
Following the arrest, both Hunkarin and another individual were arraigned before the Federal High Court on a three-count charge of conspiracy and the unlawful importation of 800 grammes of cocaine. The prosecution aimed to hold both individuals accountable for their roles in the drug smuggling operation.
During the trial, NDLEA prosecutor Adekunle Adebajo highlighted that one of the defendants had previously jumped bail in a 2015 case, prompting a call for the court to apply strict penalties under the NDLEA Act.
Defence counsel for both convicts appealed for leniency and requested the court to impose fines instead of custodial sentences, but Justice Kakaki rejected the plea after reviewing the evidence and legal submissions.
Reacting to the judgment, NDLEA chairman and chief executive officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (retd.), described the conviction as a strong affirmation of the judiciary’s commitment to combating drug trafficking in Nigeria.
Marwa said Chinedu’s re-arrest after almost 10 years on the run demonstrated the determination, patience and professionalism of NDLEA operatives in tracking down fugitives and ensuring that no drug trafficker escapes justice.
He also commended the officers involved in the arrest, investigation and prosecution of the case, reaffirming the agency’s commitment to working with the judiciary and other stakeholders to bring drug traffickers to justice, regardless of their status or how long they evade the law.