A Nigerian Federal High Court has sentenced a former international footballer and a fugitive drug trafficking suspect to a combined 24 years in prison after they were found guilty of importing cocaine into the country, bringing to an end a case that stretched over nearly a decade.
Justice Musa Kakaki delivered the judgment in Lagos, convicting former footballer Segun George Hunkarin and Ntoruka Emmanuel Chinedu for separate but connected cocaine trafficking offences. The ruling marks one of the most significant convictions secured by Nigeria’s National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) in recent years, highlighting the country’s intensified efforts to dismantle international drug trafficking networks.
According to court records, Chinedu was first arraigned in September 2015 over the alleged importation of 6.250 kilograms of cocaine into Nigeria. Although he pleaded not guilty and was granted bail, he disappeared during the trial, evading justice for almost 10 years.
His escape came to an end on June 24, 2025, when NDLEA operatives arrested him at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. Authorities alleged that he was attempting to smuggle another 800 grams of cocaine into Nigeria after arriving on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Addis Ababa.
Investigators said Chinedu had travelled from Turkey before transiting through Ethiopia, where he allegedly collected a suitcase containing the illicit drugs before boarding the flight to Lagos.
The investigation soon expanded, leading to the arrest of former professional footballer Segun George Hunkarin, who was allegedly waiting at the airport to receive the drug shipment. NDLEA officials claimed that Hunkarin admitted during interrogation that he had previously trafficked narcotics from Brazil to Ethiopia on two occasions while pursuing his football career in South America.
Both men were subsequently charged with conspiracy and unlawful importation of cocaine.
Delivering judgment, Justice Kakaki sentenced Chinedu to 20 years imprisonment without the option of a fine for importing 6.250 kilograms of cocaine. He received an additional two-year sentence for conspiring with Hunkarin to import another 800 grams, bringing his total prison term to 22 years.
Hunkarin was sentenced to two years imprisonment for his role in the conspiracy, bringing the combined sentence handed down to both convicts to 24 years.
During the trial, NDLEA prosecuting counsel Adekunle Adebajo urged the court to impose strict punishment, arguing that Chinedu’s decision to abscond after being granted bail demonstrated a disregard for the judicial process.
Lawyers representing the defendants appealed for leniency and requested that the court impose fines instead of custodial sentences. However, Justice Kakaki rejected the plea, ruling that imprisonment was appropriate considering the seriousness of the offences.
Reacting to the verdict, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd.), described the judgment as a major victory in Nigeria’s campaign against drug trafficking.
Marwa praised the dedication of NDLEA officers who tracked down Chinedu after nearly a decade on the run, saying the successful re-arrest sends a strong message that fugitives cannot permanently escape justice.
He also reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to working closely with the judiciary and other security institutions to disrupt drug trafficking syndicates operating within and beyond Nigeria’s borders.
The conviction comes as Nigerian authorities continue to strengthen efforts against transnational organised crime, with airports and border entry points remaining key targets in the country’s anti-narcotics operations.
