• Combined Prison Term: Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court in Lagos sentenced fugitive drug trafficker Ntoruka Emmanuel Chinedu and former international footballer Hunkarin Segun George to a total of 24 years in prison without the option of a fine [cite: Justice-Musa-Kakaki-of-the-Federal-High-Court-Lagos-jailed-fugitive-drug-trafficker-Ntoruka-Emmanuel-Chinedu-and-ex-international-footballer-Hunkarin-Segun-George-for-a-combined-24-years., The-court-gave-Chinedu-22-years-and-Hunkarin-two-years-without-fine-options-as-NDLEA-boss-Brig-Gen-Mohamed-Buba-Marwa-retd-praised-the-judgment.].....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

  • Chinedu’s Sentence: Chinedu received 20 years for a previous 2015 drug case involving 6.25kg of cocaine, plus an additional 2 years for conspiracy, totaling 22 years behind bars [cite: NDLEA-spokesman-Femi-Babafemi-said-Chinedu-absconded-after-September-2015-arraignment-over-6-25kg-cocaine-but-operatives-rearrested-him-at-MMIA-on-June-24-2025., Delivering-judgment-Justice-Kakaki-sentenced-Chinedu-to-20-years-imprisonment-without-an-option-of-fine-for-the-unlawful-importation-of-6-25kg-cocaine., The-judge-imposed-an-additional-two-year-prison-term-also-without-an-option-of-fine-for-conspiring-dengan-with-Hunkarin-to-unlawfully-import-the-additional-800-grams-of-cocaine., The-sentences-brought-Chinedu-s-total-prison-term-to-22-years.].

  • Hunkarin’s Sentence: The former Brazilian-league footballer was handed a two-year custodial sentence for conspiracy after being caught waiting at the airport car park to collect the illicit consignment [cite: The-court-gave-Chinedu-22-years-and-Hunkarin-two-years-without-fine-options-as-NDLEA-boss-Brig-Gen-Mohamed-Buba-Marwa-retd-praised-the-judgment., Further-investigations-led-NDLEA-operatives-to-Hunkarin-a-former-professional-footballer-who-had-spent-several-years-playing-for-clubs-in-Brazil., The-agency-said-Hunkarin-was-waiting-at-the-airport-car-park-to-collect-the-cocaine-consignment-from-Chinedu-when-operatives-tracked-and-arrested-him., Hunkarin-meanwhile-received-a-two-year-custodial-sentence-for-conspiracy-bringing-the-combined-sentences-imposed-on-the-two-convicts-to-24-years.].

  Background and Arrest

  • The Decade-Long Flight: Chinedu originally absconded after being arraigned in September 2015 and jumping bail, remaining a fugitive for nearly ten years [cite: NDLEA-spokesman-Femi-Babafemi-said-Chinedu-absconded-after-September-2015-arraignment-over-6-25kg-cocaine-but-operatives-rearrested-him-at-MMIA-on-June-24-2025., Chinedu-who-had-been-on-the-run-for-nearly-10-years-after-jumping-bail-in-an-earlier-cocaine-trafficking-case-received-a-total-of-22-years-imprisonment-while-Hunkarin-was-sentenced-to-two-years.].

  • Rearrest: NDLEA operatives successfully rearrested him on June 24, 2025, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA) while he attempted to smuggle an additional 800 grams of cocaine from Addis Ababa [cite: NDLEA-spokesman-Femi-Babafemi-said-Chinedu-absconded-after-September-2015-arraignment-over-6-25kg-cocaine-but-operatives-rearrested-him-at-MMIA-on-June-24-2025., The-agency-said-Chinedu-remained-at-large-for-almost-a-decade-before-operatives-rearrested-him-on-June-24-2025-at-the-Murtala-Muhammed-International-Airport-Ikeja-Lagos., At-the-time-of-his-arrest-he-was-allegedly-attempting-to-smuggle-another-800-grams-of-cocaine-into-Nigeria-aboard-an-Ethiopian-Airlines-flight-from-Addis-Ababa.].

  Reactions

  • NDLEA Commendation: NDLEA Chairman Brig. Gen. Mohamed Buba Marwa (retd.) praised the judiciary and commended operatives, noting that the decade-long pursuit highlights the agency’s persistence in tracking down drug fugitives [cite: The-court-gave-Chinedu-22-years-and-Hunkarin-two-years-without-fine-options-as-NDLEA-boss-Brig-Gen-Mohamed-Buba-Marwa-retd-praised-the-judgment., Reacting-to-the-conviction-the-Chairman-and-Chief-Executive-Officer-of-the-NDLEA-Brig-Gen-Mohamed-Buba-Marwa-retd-commended-the-judiciary-describing-the-judgment-as-further-demonstration-of-its-commitment-to-tackling-drug-trafficking., According-to-him-the-rearrest-of-the-convict-after-almost-10-years-on-the-run-demonstrated-the-agency-s-doggedness-patience-and-thoroughness-in-tracking-fugitives.].

• Suspect Arrested and Confesses: A suspect was taken into custody and confessed to stealing cash from Super Falcons players at the Marriott Hotel in Casablanca, Morocco, with full restitution of the stolen funds expected as legal proceedings move forward.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

• • Players Targeted in the Heist: Midfielder Esther Okoronkwo disclosed that over $1,000 was stolen from her room alongside teammates Chiamaka Nnadozie, Michelle Alozie, and captain Rasheedat Ajibade on the final day of their training camp.

  • Hotel Criticism: Okoronkwo publicly criticized the hotel management and staff for failing to handle the situation properly and treating the players disrespectfully after the theft was reported.

  • Focus on WAFCON Opener: Undeterred by the incident, coach Justine Madugu’s squad completed training sessions on Sunday in preparation for their Group C opening match against Malawi on Tuesday in Rabat as they target an 11th continental title.

Former Mali national team midfielder Kalilou Traoré has tragically passed away at the age of 38 following a fatal road accident.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶

Traoré earned 17 caps for the Eagles during his international career and played a key role in Mali’s historic campaign at the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), where the team earned a bronze medal finish. His standout performances during that tournament solidified his place as a fan favorite and an integral part of one of the nation’s most memorable footballing achievements.

The news of his sudden passing has sent shockwaves through the football world, prompting a flood of tributes from former teammates, supporters, and sports officials. Remembered for his unwavering commitment and dedicated service to the national jersey, Traoré’s loss leaves a deep void in Malian sports.