Ex-Nigerian international Hunkarin Segun George jailed over cocaine importation

A former professional footballer, Hunkarin Segun George, has been sentenced to two years in prison for conspiring to unlawfully import cocaine into Nigeria, while a suspected drug kingpin, Ntoruka Emmanuel Chinedu, has received a 22-year jail term for multiple cocaine trafficking offences.

The judgment, delivered by Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday, July 24, 2026, saw the two men handed a combined 24-year prison sentence over the illegal importation of 7.050 kilograms of cocaine.

According to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Chinedu was initially arraigned in September 2015 on a one-count charge for the unlawful importation of 6.250 kilograms of cocaine in a case marked FHC/L/227C/2015.

He pleaded not guilty and was granted bail, but later disappeared during the trial and remained at large for almost a decade.

The NDLEA said Chinedu was eventually arrested on June 24, 2025, by its operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos while attempting to smuggle 800 grams of cocaine into Nigeria aboard an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Addis Ababa.

Investigations revealed that Chinedu had travelled from Turkey and passed through Ethiopia, where he allegedly collected the drug consignment before continuing his journey to Nigeria.

The agency further disclosed that Hunkarin Segun George, who had previously played professional football in Brazil, was waiting at the airport car park to receive the illegal package.

“George, who had stayed years in Brazil playing for football clubs, was promptly tracked and arrested at the car park,” the NDLEA stated.

The former footballer reportedly admitted during interrogation that he had trafficked drugs twice while he was playing professional football in Brazil.

Following their arrest, both men were charged on a three-count charge marked FHC/L/669C/2025 relating to the unlawful importation of 800 grams of cocaine.

In his ruling, Justice Kakaki sentenced Chinedu to 20 years imprisonment without the option of a fine for importing 6.250 kilograms of cocaine. He was also handed an additional two-year sentence for conspiring with George to import 800 grams of cocaine, bringing his total punishment to 22 years behind bars.

George, meanwhile, received a two-year prison sentence for his role in the conspiracy, also without the option of a fine.

During the court proceedings, prosecution counsel Barrister Adekunle Adebajo informed the court that Chinedu had previously appeared before Justice Salihu Saudi in 2015 but absconded after securing bail.

He urged the court to convict the accused persons under the relevant provisions of the NDLEA Act.

Although lawyers representing both convicts pleaded for leniency and requested that fines be considered instead of custodial sentences, Justice Kakaki ruled that the seriousness of the offences warranted prison terms.

Reacting to the verdict, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd), praised the judiciary for reinforcing its commitment to combating drug trafficking in Nigeria.

Marwa described the conviction as proof that drug-related offenders cannot escape justice regardless of how long they evade authorities.

He also commended NDLEA officers involved in the operation, stating that Chinedu’s re-arrest after nearly 10 years on the run demonstrated the agency’s determination, patience and commitment to tracking down fugitives.

The NDLEA boss reaffirmed the agency’s resolve to continue working with the judiciary and other stakeholders to ensure that individuals involved in drug trafficking are held accountable, regardless of their status or influence.