Fugitive Drug Lord and Ex-Footballer Sentenced for Cocaine Importation
A former drug lord and professional football player, who eluded law enforcement for nearly a decade, has received a combined sentence of 24 years in prison for cocaine trafficking in Nigeria.
Court Proceedings and Sentencing Details
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) announced on Monday that Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court in Lagos has convicted Ntuluka Emmanuel Chinedu and former footballer Segun George Hankalin for unlawfully importing 7.050 kilograms of cocaine into the country. Chinedu was sentenced to 22 years in prison, while Hankalin received a two-year sentence. Notably, neither sentence allows for a fine payment as an alternative.
Background on the Suspects
NDLEA Media and Advocacy Director Femi Babafemi reported that Chinedu faced initial charges for importing 6.250 kilograms of cocaine in September 2015. However, he fled during his trial and remained a fugitive for almost ten years.
Details of Rearrest
According to agency officials, Chinedu was apprehended on June 24, 2025, while attempting to smuggle an additional 800 grams of cocaine into Nigeria via Murtala Mohammed International Airport, having traveled on an Ethiopian Airlines flight from Addis Ababa. Investigators later found that Hankalin was stationed at the airport’s parking lot, preparing to collect a package linked to the drug smuggling operation.
Charges and Trial Proceedings
Following their arrests, both were charged with three counts of illegal drug importation, designated FHC/L/669C/2025. During the court proceedings, Justice Kakaki sentenced Chinedu on July 24, 2026, to 20 years for importing 6.250 kilograms of cocaine, adding two more years for conspiracy with Hankalin over the 800 grams of cocaine shipment. Hankalin, complicit in the conspiracy, was sentenced to two years behind bars.
Remarks from NDLEA Officials
During the trial, prosecutor Adekunle Adebajo reminded the court of Chinedu’s original arraignment in 2015, emphasizing his flight from justice after being granted bail. He urged for sentencing in line with the NDLEA Act. In response to the conviction, NDLEA Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retired) praised the judiciary’s dedication to combating drug trafficking.
The Bigger Picture in Drug Trafficking Enforcement
Marwa underscored that this case illustrates the determination of judicial authorities to confront drug trafficking and hold perpetrators accountable, highlighting Chinedu’s arrest as a significant achievement for local law enforcement. He reaffirmed the commitment of NDLEA and partner law enforcement agencies to ensure that drug traffickers, regardless of their stature or how long they remain at large, will ultimately face justice.
