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The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has secured the conviction of a fugitive drug kingpin, Ntoruka Emmanuel Chinedu, and a former international footballer, Hunkarin Segun George, who were jailed a combined 24 years by Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court, Lagos, for unlawfully importing 7.050 kilogrammes of cocaine into Nigeria.
Chinedu was first arraigned in September 2015 on a one-count charge marked FHC/L/227C/2015 for unlawfully importing 6.250 kilogrammes of cocaine.
He pleaded not guilty and was granted bail but jumped bail midway through the trial and remained at large for nearly 10 years.
He was finally re-arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, while trying to smuggle 800 grammes of cocaine on an inbound Ethiopian Airlines flight from Addis Ababa.
He was a frequent flyer known for ferrying clothes from Turkey to Nigeria and foodstuffs from Nigeria to Turkey.
Investigations showed that the convict was travelling from Turkey on the Ethiopian Airlines flight but transited through Addis Ababa, where he picked up the luggage from another person before proceeding to Nigeria.
Further checks revealed that an accomplice, who turned out to be former professional footballer Segun George Hunkarin, was waiting for Chinedu at the airport car park to collect the consignment.
Hunkarin, who had spent years in Brazil playing for football clubs, was swiftly tracked and arrested at the car park.
In his statement, Hunkarin claimed that during his time playing professional football in the South American country, he had trafficked drugs only twice, from Brazil to Ethiopia.
Both Chinedu and Hunkarin were subsequently arraigned on a three-count charge marked FHC/L/669C/2025 for the unlawful importation of 800 grammes of cocaine.
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Delivering judgment on Friday, July 24, 2026, Justice Kakaki sentenced Chinedu to 20 years’ imprisonment without an option of fine for the unlawful importation of 6.250 kilogrammes of cocaine, and a further two years, also without an option of fine, for conspiring with Hunkarin to import 800 grammes of cocaine, bringing his total sentence to 22 years.
Hunkarin received two years’ imprisonment on the conspiracy charge, taking the combined jail terms to 24 years.
Reviewing the case, prosecuting counsel Barrister Adekunle Adebajo reminded the court that Chinedu had earlier been arraigned before Justice Salihu Saudi (now retired) in 2015 on the same importation charge but disappeared after being granted bail.
Citing several legal authorities, the NDLEA prosecutor urged the court to sentence the convicts in line with the relevant provisions of the NDLEA Act.
Defence counsel, Chief Benson Ndakara for Chinedu and Chief Emefo Etudo for Hunkarin, pleaded with the court for leniency and asked that fine options be considered in place of custodial sentences.
The court, after carefully reviewing the submissions, cited authorities, and tendered exhibits, sentenced both convicts to prison terms without any option of fine.
Reacting to the conviction, the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Marwa (Rtd), commended the judiciary for the judgment, describing it as a reaffirmation of the courts’ commitment to ridding the country of drug trafficking and those who perpetrate it, no matter how long they evade justice.
Marwa also commended the officers, men, and women of the agency involved in the arrest, investigation, and prosecution of the case, noting that Chinedu’s eventual re-arrest after nearly 10 years on the run demonstrated the doggedness, patience, and thoroughness of NDLEA operatives in tracking down fugitives and ensuring that no drug trafficker escapes the long arm of the law.
He restated the agency’s resolve to continue working closely with the judiciary and other stakeholders to ensure that persons involved in drug trafficking, regardless of their status or how long they attempt to evade justice, are brought to book.
