Former national team footballer, fugitive drug boss jailed for cocaine importation

A former national footballer, Segun George Hunkarin, and a fugitive drug trafficking suspect, Ntoruka Emmanuel Chinedu, have been sentenced to 24 years in prison by the Federal High Court in Lagos after being found guilty of several cocaine importation offences.

The sentence, handed down by Justice Musa Kakaki, follows the successful prosecution of the two men by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). The court found them guilty of offenses involving the illegal importation of 7,050 kilograms of cocaine into Nigeria and imposed prison sentences without the possibility of a fine.

Former footballer linked to cocaine dealing

According to the NDLEA, investigations into the case led to the arrest of Hunkarin, a former professional footballer who reportedly played for Brazilian clubs. He was arrested at the car park of Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, where he was allegedly waiting to receive a consignment of cocaine brought into the country.

The anti-drug agency said Hunkarin admitted in his statement that he had previously trafficked illicit drugs from Brazil to Ethiopia on two occasions while pursuing his football career in South America. His arrest followed investigations into another suspect who was intercepted at the airport while attempting to smuggle cocaine into Nigeria.

Fugitive rearrested after almost 10 years

The second convict, Ntoruka Emmanuel Chinedu, was first arraigned before the Federal High Court in September 2015 on a single charge bordering on the illegal importation of 6,250 kilograms of cocaine. Although he pleaded not guilty and was granted bail, he absconded during the trial and remained at large for nearly a decade.

According to the NDLEA, Chinedu was arrested again on June 24, 2025 at Murtala Muhammed International Airport while allegedly attempting to smuggle another 800 grams of cocaine into Nigeria on board an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Addis Ababa.

Investigators said Chinedu traveled from Turkey and transited through Addis Ababa, where he allegedly picked up a suitcase containing the illicit drug before boarding the flight to Lagos.

The Court imposes prison sentences

Following new investigations, the NDLEA arraigned Chinedu and Hunkarin on three charges bordering on conspiracy and illegal importation of 800 grams of cocaine.

In his July 24, 2026 ruling, Judge Kakaki sentenced Chinedu to 20 years’ imprisonment without the possibility of a fine for the importation of 6,250 kilograms of cocaine. The court also sentenced him to a further two years in prison for conspiring with Hunkarin to import another 800 grams of cocaine, bringing his total sentence to 22 years.

Hunkarin was sentenced to two years in prison on conspiracy charges, bringing the total prison sentence imposed on both convicts to 24 years.

During the proceedings, the NDLEA Public Prosecutor, Barrister Adekunle Adebajo, reminded the court that Chinedu had jumped bail in 2015 and urged the judge to impose sanctions consistent with the provisions of the NDLEA Act.

Lawyers representing the defendants, Chief Benson Ndakara and Chief Emefo Etudo, appealed for leniency and asked the court to consider imposing fines instead of prison terms. However, Judge Kakaki rejected the request and ordered that both convicts serve their prison sentences without the possibility of a fine.

Marwa praises the verdict

Reacting to the ruling, the President and Chief Executive Officer of the NDLEA, Brigadier General Mohamed Buba Marwa (Retd), commended the court for what he described as a strong demonstration of the judiciary’s commitment to the fight against illicit drug trafficking.

Marwa also commended the NDLEA operatives involved in the investigation, arrest and prosecution of the case, stressing that Chinedu’s re-arrest after nearly 10 years on the run reflects the agency’s determination to prosecute drug traffickers regardless of how long they evade justice.

He reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to collaborate with the judiciary and other security institutions to combat drug trafficking and ensure that violators are brought to justice.