A fugitive drug kingpin, Ntoruka Emmanuel Chinedu, and an ex-international footballer, Hunkarin Segun George have been convicted and sentenced to combined 24 years jail term by Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court, Lagos, for unlawful importation of 7.050 kilograms of cocaine into Nigeria.
This was disclosed in a press statement signed by Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA Headquarters, Abuja, Femi Babafemi on Monday 27th July, 2026. The judgment, delivered on Friday, July 24, 2026, brings to conclusion a case that spanned over a decade and highlights the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency’s resolve to track down drug traffickers no matter how long they evade justice.
The agency revealed that Chinedu was first arraigned in September 2015 before Justice Salihu Saidu (now retired) on a one-count charge marked FHC/L/227c/2015 for unlawfully importing 6.250kg of cocaine. He pleaded not guilty and was granted bail but jumped bail midway into trial and absconded.
It was further stated that for nearly 10 years he remained on the run until NDLEA operatives eventually re-arrested him on Tuesday, June 24, 2025, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, while attempting to smuggle an additional 800 grams of cocaine on an inbound Ethiopian Airlines flight from Addis Ababa.
Investigations further revealed Chinedu was a frequent flyer who conveyed clothes from Turkey to Nigeria and foodstuffs from Nigeria to Turkey. On this trip, he had transited through Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, where he collected the luggage containing drugs from another person before proceeding to Lagos.
Further probe led operatives to Hunkarin Segun George, an ex-professional footballer who played for clubs in Brazil. Hunkarin was tracked and arrested at the airport carpark where he was waiting to collect the consignment from Chinedu.
In his statement, Hunkarin admitted that while playing professional football in Brazil, he had previously trafficked drugs twice from Brazil to Ethiopia.
Both men were subsequently arraigned on a three-count charge marked FHC/L/669C/2025 for the unlawful importation of the 800g of cocaine.
Delivering judgment on Friday 24th July, 2026, Justice Kakaki sentenced Chinedu to 20 years imprisonment without option of fine for the 2015 importation of 6.250kg of cocaine.
NDLEA Reaffirms War Against Drug Trafficking
The court also slammed him with an additional 2 years without option of fine for conspiring with Hunkarin to import 800g of cocaine in 2025. This brings Chinedu’s total jail term to 22 years.
Also, Hunkarin was sentenced to 2 years imprisonment on the conspiracy charge. The combined jail terms total 24 years.
Prosecuting counsel, Barrister Adekunle Adebajo, reminded the court of Chinedu’s bail-jumping in 2015 and cited relevant authorities under the NDLEA Act, urging maximum custodial sentences.
Defence counsel, Chief Benson Ndakara for Chinedu and Chief Emefo Etudo for Hunkarin, pleaded for leniency and asked for fine options in lieu of jail. The court, however, rejected the plea after reviewing submissions, authorities and exhibits tendered.
Reacting to the conviction, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of NDLEA, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), commended the judiciary for the judgment, describing it as a reaffirmation of the courts’ commitment to ridding the country of drug trafficking.
Marwa also praised the officers involved in the arrest, investigation and prosecution, noting that Chinedu’s re-arrest after nearly a decade demonstrated the “doggedness, patience and thoroughness” of NDLEA operatives.
The eventual re-arrest of Chinedu after 10 years on the run indicates that ” no drug trafficker will escape the long arm of the law, regardless of status or how long they try to evade justice,” Marwa said.
He reiterated the Agency’s resolve to continue working closely with the judiciary and other stakeholders to ensure all persons involved in drug trafficking are brought to book.
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