A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has sentenced fugitive drug trafficker Ntoruka Emmanuel Chinedu and former Nigerian international footballer Segun Hunkarin to a combined 24 years imprisonment after finding them guilty of cocaine trafficking offense.
Justice Musa Kakaki handed down the judgment after ruling that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) had established the charges against the two convicts beyond reasonable doubt.
The court heard that Chinedu was first arraigned in September 2015 for importing 6.25 kilograms of cocaine into Nigeria. Despite pleading not guilty and securing bail, he absconded, stalling the trial for nearly a decade.
His luck eventually ran out on June 24, 2025, when NDLEA operatives re-arrested him at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, as he attempted to smuggle another 800 grams of cocaine into the country aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Addis Ababa.
Subsequent investigations linked the latest drug shipment to former international footballer Segun Hunkarin, leading to their joint prosecution on charges bordering on conspiracy and unlawful importation of narcotic substances.
In his judgment, Justice Kakaki sentenced Chinedu to 20 years imprisonment for the 2015 cocaine importation and an additional two years for his role in the later conspiracy involving the fresh cocaine consignment. The sentences are to run consecutively, bringing his total jail term to 22 years.
Hunkarin was sentenced to two years imprisonment for conspiring with Chinedu in the attempted importation of the illicit drug, bringing the combined prison terms for both convicts to 24 years.
The court held that the prosecution had presented overwhelming evidence establishing the guilt of both men, emphasizing that drug trafficking remains a serious crime with devastating consequences for society.
Reacting to the judgment, the NDLEA described the convictions as another significant victory in its relentless campaign against drug cartels and transnational narcotics syndicates. The agency reiterated its resolve to pursue drug traffickers wherever they may be and ensure they face the full weight of the law, irrespective of their status or public profile.
The conviction of Hunkarin, once celebrated for his exploits as an international footballer, has drawn widespread public attention, serving as a stark reminder that criminal conduct carries severe consequences regardless of one’s past achievements or prominence.
