The Federal High Court in Lagos has sentenced former international footballer Segun Hunkarin and fugitive drug trafficker Ntoruka Chinedu to a combined 24 years in prison for importing cocaine into Nigeria.
Justice Musa Kakaki delivered the judgment after finding both men guilty of offences linked to the unlawful importation of 7.05 kilograms of cocaine.
According to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Chinedu was first arraigned in 2015 for smuggling 6.25kg of cocaine but absconded after being granted bail, remaining on the run for nearly a decade.
He was re-arrested on June 24, 2025, at Murtala Muhammed International Airport while attempting to smuggle another 800 grams of cocaine aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Addis Ababa.
Investigations revealed that Chinedu had travelled from Turkey, transited through Ethiopia, and collected the drug-laden luggage before arriving in Nigeria. Hunkarin, who previously played professional football in Brazil, was arrested at the airport car park while waiting to receive the consignment. He admitted to trafficking drugs twice during his football career in South America.
Both men were arraigned on a three-count charge of conspiracy and unlawful importation. Chinedu received 20 years for the 2015 case and an additional two years for the 2025 offence, while Hunkarin was sentenced to two years for conspiracy.
NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.) hailed the convictions as proof of the judiciary’s commitment to fighting drug trafficking.
“The re-arrest of Chinedu after nearly 10 years on the run demonstrates the doggedness and thoroughness of NDLEA operatives,” Marwa said.
He commended officers involved in the arrests and prosecution, reiterating the agency’s resolve to ensure traffickers face justice regardless of their status or how long they evade capture.
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