Category: Nigerian Tribune

No fewer than 40 million Nigerians who place their reliance on airtime borrowing services may be confronted by another round of disruptions if the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Commission (FCCPC) begins complete enforcement of its Digital, Electronic, Online or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending (DEON) Regulations 2025 before the determination of a pending appeal.

The above warning is contained in an affidavit sworn to by the Chairman of WASPAN, Ayo Stuffman, in support of the association’s application for an injunction pending appeal following the July 20 judgment of the Federal High Court sitting at Ikoyi, Lagos, which upheld the FCCPC’s authority to issue and enforce the DEON regulations.

The suit, designated FHC/L/CS/760/2026, seeks to determine whether the FCCPC has the statutory authority to regulate telecommunications-based airtime lending services or whether such regulatory powers belong exclusively to the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) under the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003.

Consequent to the judgment handed down by the Federal High Court, WASPAN initiated a Notice of Appeal on July 21, praying to the court to restrain the FCCPC from implementing the regulations until the Appellate Court determines the substantive issues.

The association, according to Stuffman, became alarmed after the FCCPC announced immediately after the judgment that enforcement of the DEON Regulations had resumed, declaring that the legal impediment responsible for the earlier suspension of implementation had been removed and that the regulations were now fully operational and enforceable.

Stuffman posited that enforcing the regulations before the appeal is heard could expose operators to regulatory sanctions, create uncertainty within the telecommunications industry and disrupt airtime borrowing services relied upon by millions of Nigerians.

Stuffman, in the affidavit, declared that ‘I know for a fact that unless restrained by the orders of this Honourable Court, the Defendant will proceed to enforce the said regulations against members of the Plaintiff.’

He equally contended that FCCPC’s actions would continue to subject WASPAN members to regulatory uncertainty, expose them to sanctions and interfere with their lawful business operations while the appeal remains pending.

WASPAN insisted that its members are already being constrained in exercising their operational responsibilities under the NCC, which it described as their primary regulator, through additional regulatory obligations imposed by the FCCPC, including partnership approvals and service agreement requirements.

Stuffman equally argued that allowing the regulations to be enforced before the appeal is determined would render the appellate proceedings ineffective by creating a fait accompli before the Court of Appeal has an opportunity to rule on the legality of the regulations.

In the affidavit, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, SAN, Chukwudi Enebeli, who represented WASPAN, opined that the appeal raises substantial and arguable legal questions regarding the scope of the FCCPC’s regulatory authority over telecommunications services.

The legal opinion attached to the application further stated that there is a real likelihood that enforcement of the regulations could disrupt the operations of WASPAN members while the appeal is awaiting determination.

The association maintained that refusing its request for an injunction would undermine the purpose of the appeal and expose operators to irreversible consequences before the appellate court delivers its judgment.

It would be recalled that in the proceedings earlier, the Association of Licensed Telecommunications Operators of Nigeria (ALTON) had argued that airtime credit is not a traditional financial product but an essential telecommunications service that enables millions of Nigerians to remain connected, especially during emergencies.

In fact, the regulatory disagreement had previously resulted in the temporary suspension of airtime borrowing services by major mobile network operators before the Federal High Court granted interim relief allowing the services to resume pending the determination of the substantive suit.

The FCCPC, through its Director of Corporate Affairs, Ondaje Ijagwu, revealed that the FCCPC remains committed to the rule of law and would continue to discharge its statutory responsibilities in line with the court’s judgment.

According to him, the Commission had always maintained that the rule of law is fundamental to effective regulation and good governance, adding that following the court’s affirmation of the DEON Regulations, the FCCPC would continue to implement its statutory mandate professionally and in accordance with the law.

Every election changes a government, but very few of them change an economy. This is one of the most important lessons in political economy, but it is often forgotten in public debate. Elections attract headlines, governments make appointments afterwards, and political parties celebrate victory or explain defeat. But once the excitement is over, the real question remains unanswered: Has anything changed that will make the economy more productive?

This question explains why some nations become prosperous while others remain trapped in the cycle of political competition without achieving lasting economic progress.

For many years, people believed that natural resources determined the wealth of nations, but experience has shown otherwise. Countries with few natural resources have become some of the richest in the world, while many resource-rich nations continue to struggle with unemployment, poverty and slow economic growth. The difference is rarely the resources beneath the ground. More often, it is the ideas that guide those who govern above the ground. And, this is where political economy becomes important.

Political economy begins with a simple truth that, every economic outcome is shaped by political choices. A government’s decision to protect property rights affects investment. Its tax policies influence business expansion. Its education policies affect the quality of future workers. Its infrastructure decisions determine how easily goods move from farms and factories to markets. Even the confidence investors have in an economy is influenced by the quality of public institutions.

In other words, politics creates incentives, and incentives define economic behaviour.

Businesses invest when they believe tomorrow will be more predictable than today. Farmers produce more when roads, storage facilities and markets reduce waste. Young people invest in education when they believe hard work will be rewarded. Investors commit capital where rules are stable and contracts are respected. Productivity does not grow by accident. It grows because political decisions encourage people to produce, invest, innovate and create value.

This is why I believe Nigeria’s political conversation needs a new standard of measurement.

For too long, we have measured politics by elections won, appointments secured and offices occupied. These are political outcomes, but they are not necessarily development outcomes. I propose a different measure, and I call it ‘The Prosperity Test.’

Every major political decision should answer these simple question:

Will this decision increase Nigeria’s productive capacity over the next five, ten or twenty years?

Will it encourage investment? Will it create jobs? Will it improve learning? Will it strengthen institutions? Will it help businesses grow? Will it increase agricultural and industrial production?

If the answer to these questions is largely no, then we should honestly ask whether the decision serves the country’s long-term interest. Because the purpose of politics is not simply to manage power, rather it is to organise society in a way that allows more people to become productive.

This is what I describe as the ‘Politics of Production.’ And a nation focused on it does not judge success by the number of political offices it creates. It judges success by the number of economic opportunities it creates. Its governments compete to attract investment, its states compete to improve education, its institutions compete to deliver better public services, and its policies reward enterprise instead of uncertainty.

History offers many examples. Countries such as Singapore, Vietnam and Botswana followed different political paths, but they shared one important characteristic. Their governments consistently made choices that encouraged production, investment and institutional stability over long periods. They understood that sustainable prosperity is built gradually through predictable policies and capable institutions, not through short-term political victories alone.

Nigeria possesses many of the ingredients required for similar progress. We have a youthful population, vast agricultural land, entrepreneurial talent and abundant natural resources. These advantages should be engines of national prosperity, but advantages alone do not produce development.

Resources create possibilities, institutions turn possibilities into productivity, and productivity creates prosperity. That is why institutions matter so much. Strong institutions reduce uncertainty. When uncertainty falls, investment becomes easier. As investment increases, businesses expand. Expanding businesses employ more people, produce more goods and pay more taxes. Those taxes allow governments to invest further in infrastructure, education and healthcare, creating another cycle of growth.

Prosperity is therefore the result of many good political decisions reinforcing one another over time. And this understanding should also change the way we judge leadership.

A successful leader should not be remembered simply for winning elections. Did more businesses open under them? Did more young people find meaningful work? Did farmers become more productive? Did exports increase? Did institutions become stronger? And, did citizens gain greater confidence in the future? These are the questions political economy encourages us to ask because they measure whether politics is creating lasting economic value.

Nigeria has an abundance of politics. What we need is more productive politics; politics that expands opportunity, rewards enterprise and strengthens institutions. Our national conversation should therefore move beyond personalities and focus more on productivity. Governments should compete not only for political support but also for economic results. And citizens should judge leaders not only by promises made but by opportunities created.

If politics becomes more productive, the economy will become more productive. If the economy becomes more productive, living standards will improve. And if living standards improve, politics itself will become healthier because hope grows where opportunity exists.

The future of Nigeria will not be determined only by who occupies public offices, but whether those in public office understand that political power is valuable only when it expands economic opportunity.

That is the central lesson of political economy.

And perhaps it is the conversation Nigeria needs most today.

Two young Nigerian writers, Uzoigwe Miracle and Aremu Goodness Adejare, have emerged winners of the maiden edition of the Pius Oleghe Poetry and Literary Awards (POPALS), winning a combined N2 million in prize money for their outstanding poetic works.

Miracle won the Young Voices category, reserved for participants aged 12 to 17 years, while Adejare emerged winner of the Emerging Poets category for contestants between the ages of 18 and 35.

Each winner received a cash prize of N1 million, alongside publication opportunities, certificates of recognition, mentorship and other literary development benefits aimed at nurturing emerging talents.

One of the winners, Goodness Adejare Aremu is a Nigerian poet, essayist, and law student at the University of Ibadan, where he maintains a first class academic record.

The winners were selected after an extensive adjudication process by an independent panel of literary scholars, who assessed more than 145 entries submitted from across Nigeria and beyond.

The panel of judges comprised Professors Maria Ajima, Emmanuel Sule Egya, Chimalum Nwankwo, and Chike Okoye, as well as Dr Deji Ige.

The competition was coordinated by renowned poet and former President of the Association of Nigerian Authors (ANA), Professor Remi Raji, alongside award-winning playwright Nnamdi Okose, who served as literary directors.

In a statement jointly signed by the literary directors, the organisers said the inaugural edition, themed ‘Nigeria of Our Dreams,’ attracted impressive entries that reflected the creativity and intellectual depth of young Nigerian poets.

According to the statement, the quality of submissions reaffirmed poetry’s enduring relevance as a powerful medium for imagination, national reflection and hope for a better Nigeria.

The judges described Miracle’s winning entry in the Young Voices category as exceptional, citing its originality, creativity and impressive poetic craftsmanship.

Similarly, Adejare’s winning poem in the Emerging Poets category was praised for its artistic excellence and thoughtful interpretation of the competition’s theme.

The organisers also announced that shortlisted entries from both categories would be published in the inaugural Pius Oleghe Poetry Prize Anthology, showcasing some of the finest works submitted during the maiden edition of the competition.

They expressed appreciation to all participants, noting that the overwhelming response underscored the abundance of literary talent in Nigeria and the importance of creating more platforms to discover and support young writers.

The organising committee reaffirmed its commitment to identifying, nurturing and celebrating literary excellence while providing emerging poets with opportunities to reach wider audiences across Nigeria, Africa and the rest of the world.

It also commended the panel of judges for their professionalism, diligence and integrity throughout the selection process, describing their contributions as instrumental to the successful debut of the awards.

THE Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC)’s latest statistics, covering Phase III, Week Nine of the exercise as of July 17, 2026, indicate that 2,970,257 eligible Nigerians had successfully registered.

Of the total figure, 970,865 registrants (33.79 per cent) completed their registration online, while 2,000,092 (66.21 per cent) registered physically at designated centres.

A demographic breakdown of the registrants shows that women accounted for 1,561,765 (52.57 per cent), while men constituted 1,409,192 (47.43 per cent).

Young Nigerians between the ages of 18 and 34 years made up the largest category of registrants with 2,003,183 (67.43 per cent).

They were followed by those aged 35 to 49 years with 645,651 (21.73 per cent), 50 to 69 years with 294,443 (9.91 per cent), while 27,680 (0.93 per cent) were aged 70 years and above.

By occupation, students recorded the highest number of registrations with 695,026, followed by business owners (626,523), farmers and fishermen (505,402), and housewives (480,682). Other registrants included artisans (152,184), traders (133,834), civil servants (74,507) and public servants (47,778).

INEC further disclosed that 32,361 persons living with disabilities were successfully registered during the exercise.

State-by-state statistics showed that Kano State recorded the highest number of new registrations with 234,305, followed by Lagos (140,546) and Edo (139,313).

Other states with high registration figures included Delta (132,330), Taraba (113,409), Ebonyi (111,344), Sokoto (109,076), Ogun (96,571), Bauchi (96,061), Jigawa (95,592), Kaduna (92,505), Benue (88,840), Oyo (88,716), Imo (88,155), Anambra (87,195), Nasarawa (86,914), Cross River (86,559), Bayelsa (80,425), Niger (76,841), Kwara (76,084), Katsina (74,896),Gombe (74,152), Yobe (71,382), Kebbi (70,859), Kogi (69,713), Adamawa (65,505), Borno (44,866), the Federal Capital Territory (41,700), and Plateau (31,352).

At the lower end of the scale, Ekiti recorded 841 completed registrations, while Ondo had 17,679.

Registration in Osun State remained suspended because of the forthcoming August 15th governorship election, in line with Section 9(6) of the Electoral Act 2026, leaving the state with no registrations during the reporting period.

INEC noted that the 2.97 million registrations remain preliminary, explaining that the figures are subject to clean-up through the Automated Biometric Identification System (ABIS) to remove multiple registrations and address objections from citizens.

National commissioner Haruna has said that in continuation of the process, the commission will display the Register of Voters for claims and objections from Thursday, 23rd July to Wednesday, 29th July 2026.

However, INEC has ruled out the possibility of further extension of nationwide Continuous Voter Registration (CVR) exercise after the end of its third and final phase on Sunday, 26th July 2026 ahead of the 2027 General Elections.

INEC National Commissioner and Chairman of the Information and Voter Education Committee (IVEC), Mohammed Kudu Haruna, as well as INEC’s Director of Voter Education and Publicity (VEP), Victoria Eta-Messi, confirmed this to Nigerian Tribune.

Also, in a post on its official X handle, INEC stressed that CVR closed on Sunday, July 26.

When asked if the commission would extend the deadline again, Haruna said, ‘No. There will be no extension of the two-week extension’, while Mrs Eta-Messi simply asked ‘Is there any need to extend the CVR exercise?’

The duo also confirmed the receipt of access codes for the upload of names and particulars of Governorship and State Houses of Assembly candidates by all the 21 registered political parties.

When asked about the number of political parties that had obtained access codes to enable their designated national officers to upload names, personal particulars, and other required information relating nominated candidates, the chairman of IVEC said, ‘All 22 political parties have collected their token for the submission of their candidates’, while the Director of VEP said, ‘All parties I believe have obtained their access codes.’

On the number of captured during the CVR and the total number of registered voters in the country, the national commissioner said, ‘We will not know the total number until after 12 midnight tomorrow (Sunday) when the portal shuts down.’

However, Nigerian Tribune can conveniently report that about 9,291,715 eligible Nigerians may have been added to the register of voters ahead of the 2027 general election during the three phases of the CVR exercise.

A former member of the House of Representatives and senatorial aspirant, Rt Honourable Mayowa Akinfolarin, at the weekend, mobilised his political structures across Ondo South Senatorial District with the directive to ensure overwhelming victory for President Bola Tinubu as well as every candidate within the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Akinfolarin, who had served as both state and federal lawmaker, emphasised that the interest of the APC and the success of Tinubu’s emergence at the polls in 2027 outweigh every personal ambition.

The APC chieftain, who contested the ticket of the party for the senatorial district during the recent primaries of the party, stressed this while meeting with party leaders, women, youths, and grassroots coordinators across the six local councils of the senatorial district.

According to Akinfolarin, the gathering was aimed at strengthening the APC’s electoral machinery ahead of 2027 and ensuring that the party presents a united front.

While directing all members of his political family to close ranks and work for the victory of every APC candidate in the state, maintained that the APC has always remained a party built on discipline, sacrifice, and respect for constituted authority.

Akinfolarin added that every loyal party member must stand by the decisions of the leadership of the party in order to preserve the unity and strength of the progressive family.

The former lawmaker, who commended the minister of interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, for his support before, during, and after the party primaries, described him as ‘a political lion’ whose courage, influence, and capacity to defend and protect his followers have continued to inspire confidence across the political landscape of the state.

On his part, the Director-General of Akinfolarin’s political structure, Nimbe Tawose, hailed party leaders, stakeholders, and loyal supporters for their support and prayers for Akinfolarin during the struggle for the party’s ticket.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that cuts in international funding could reverse decades of progress in the fight against HIV across Africa, with Nigeria among countries most at risk due to its heavy reliance on donor support for prevention, testing and treatment programmes.

The warning is contained in WHO’s latest assessment of the Global Health Sector Strategies on HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections (STIs), released on Monday during the 26th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2026).

The report said that although global HIV infections have dropped by 42 per cent and AIDS-related deaths by 57 per cent since 2010, about nine million people worldwide are still without life-saving treatment, while funding disruptions recorded in 2025 have already affected prevention services in several countries.

WHO noted that access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a key medicine used to prevent HIV infection, declined in some countries following reductions in donor funding, despite efforts by governments to sustain services.

For Nigeria, Africa’s most populous nation and one of the countries with the highest HIV burden globally, the development raises concerns over the sustainability of programmes that have depended largely on international partners.

WHO Director-General, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said years of progress could be wiped out if governments and development partners fail to sustain investments in healthcare.

‘This report tells two stories. It demonstrates what is possible when countries invest in health, communities and science. But it also shows how quickly progress can be undone with funding disruptions, humanitarian emergencies and persistent inequalities,’ he said.

The report also identified viral hepatitis as an increasing public health threat, despite improvements in prevention and treatment.

According to WHO, hepatitis B infections have fallen by 32 per cent since 2015, while deaths linked to hepatitis C have declined by 12 per cent. However, viral hepatitis still claimed an estimated 1.3 million lives globally in 2024, with hepatitis B-related deaths rising by 17 per cent over the same period.

Nigeria is among countries with a high burden of hepatitis B, but experts say low testing rates and limited access to treatment continue to fuel preventable deaths from liver disease.

The global health agency further warned that sexually transmitted infections remain a growing concern, citing rising infection rates and increasing resistance to antibiotics used to treat gonorrhoea.

To prevent setbacks, WHO urged countries to strengthen domestic financing for HIV, hepatitis and STI programmes, integrate disease services into primary healthcare, improve surveillance systems and expand access to innovative prevention tools, including the newly recommended twice-yearly injectable lenacapavir for HIV prevention.

WHO’s Director of HIV, Tuberculosis, Hepatitis and STIs, Dr Tereza Kasaeva, described the report as a roadmap for countries to accelerate action towards ending the three epidemics by 2030.

The report comes as governments, including Nigeria, face increasing pressure to bridge funding gaps created by declining international health assistance while sustaining progress towards the global target of ending HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections as public health threats.

The presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, Peter Obi, has said the 2027 presidential election could be his final race at Nigeria’s highest office, citing age and his belief that younger Nigerians should be given the opportunity to lead.

Obi made the remark during an interview on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics on Sunday, where he reflected on his political future.

Asked whether the 2027 election would be his last presidential race, the former Anambra State governor said the decision would largely depend on the outcome of the poll but indicated he was nearing the end of his political journey.

‘It depends on who wins,’ Obi said.

‘But I can tell you, I’m coming to the end of it because I believe that the younger ones should be allowed.’

The former Labour Party presidential candidate explained that advancing age would make it increasingly difficult to cope with the demands of the presidency.

‘I’ll be 68 or 69. So, if you add that to another eight years, I will be 77 or 78. I don’t think I’ll have the energy I have today because that capacity is very important. It’s critical,’ he said.

Obi said while the outcome of the 2027 election would influence his next political move, he remained convinced that the country must begin creating more opportunities for younger leaders to take charge.

The former governor contested the 2019 election as the vice-presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party alongside Atiku Abubakar before emerging as the Labour Party’s presidential candidate in the 2023 election.

Ahead of the 2027 general election, Obi became the presidential candidate of the Nigeria Democratic Congress after leaving the African Democratic Congress.

A Canada-based Nigerian woman, Mrs Ezinne Nwanorue, has drawn widespread attention online after announcing the death of her mother-in-law and describing the deceased as a ‘wicked witch’ in a Facebook post.

Ezinne shared the funeral poster of her late mother-in-law, Comfort Nwanorue, on Facebook on Monday alongside a strongly worded message directed at the deceased.

She wrote, ‘One wicked witch is down: my dead mother-in-law, Comfort Chika Nwanorue, rest in pieces in hell with other dead witches; your members will soon join you. I am the weapon fashioned against all the witches and wizards and all the evil people in the world; you all shall go down in my hands. Very wicked beings.

‘You people should repent now and accept Christ; if not, you won’t escape the judgment of de@th from my hands, in Jesus’ name. Amen. These people have dealt with me in this life; they found out about my destiny, and they did everything within their power to bring me down, but I thank God for helping me discover who I am and coming through for my destiny; I am now in my season of manifestation, and no one can stop it.

‘They will all go down in my hands as God empowers and permits me, in the name of Jesus. Amen. I am talking from the place of my office as a prophetess of God Almighty. Prophetess Ezinne Maryjane Nwanorue.’

Tribune Online recalls that Ezinne and her husband, Franklin Chimaobim Nwanorue, previously attracted public attention after she required him to take a public oath against infidelity before supporting his relocation to Canada.

A Canada-based Nigerian woman, Mrs Ezinne Nwanorue, has drawn widespread attention online after announcing the death of her mother-in-law and describing the deceased as a ‘wicked witch’ in a Facebook post.

Ezinne shared the funeral poster of her late mother-in-law, Comfort Nwanorue, on Facebook on Monday alongside a strongly worded message directed at the deceased.

She wrote, ‘One wicked witch is down: my dead mother-in-law, Comfort Chika Nwanorue, rest in pieces in hell with other dead witches; your members will soon join you. I am the weapon fashioned against all the witches and wizards and all the evil people in the world; you all shall go down in my hands. Very wicked beings.

‘You people should repent now and accept Christ; if not, you won’t escape the judgment of de@th from my hands, in Jesus’ name. Amen. These people have dealt with me in this life; they found out about my destiny, and they did everything within their power to bring me down, but I thank God for helping me discover who I am and coming through for my destiny; I am now in my season of manifestation, and no one can stop it.

‘They will all go down in my hands as God empowers and permits me, in the name of Jesus. Amen. I am talking from the place of my office as a prophetess of God Almighty. Prophetess Ezinne Maryjane Nwanorue.’

Tribune Online recalls that Ezinne and her husband, Franklin Chimaobim Nwanorue, previously attracted public attention after she required him to take a public oath against infidelity before supporting his relocation to Canada.

A simple upcycled items like toilet paper rolls work better than store-bought ties to prevent wire damage.

In this article, Tribune Online examines seven smart ways you can turn everyday household trash into free cable holders.

Empty toilet paper rolls

Empty cardboard rolls from your tissue paper make perfect holders for thick phone cables and laptop extensions.

Fold your cord into a neat loop and slide it directly into the roll. The hard shell holds the wire together so it never entangles with other cords in your drawer.

Plastic bread tags

Those small square plastic tags used to seal bread bags make excellent labels for your extension boxes.

Clip the tag onto the wire end and write the device name on it using a permanent marker. You will never unplug the wrong TV or decoder cord by mistake again.

Used shoe boxes

An old shoe box easily turns into a hidden charging station for your parlor.

Cut small circular holes along the front side, place an extension socket inside, and pull the charger tips through.

This hides ugly multi-plugs and keeps dust away from your sockets.

Heavy-duty binder clips

Old office binder clips can hold loose phone cords along your wooden desk.

Clamp the clip to the edge of your table and pass the charger wire through the silver metal loops.

The thick head stops the cord from slipping to the floor when unplugged.

Twist ties from food packaging

The tiny wire ties that seal bread bags, biscuit wrappers, and electronics packaging are very useful.

Wrap your long cords together and twist the wire around them to secure the bundle. They work just like expensive velcro straps and cost absolutely nothing.

Empty plastic water bottles

Cut the top and bottom off a small plastic bottle to create a clear sleeve. Slide your rolled-up television extension wires straight into the middle section.

The stiff plastic keeps heavy cables bound tightly together during transport or storage.

Cardboard egg cartons

Cut out individual cups from a paper egg carton to separate tiny items like earphone wires or flash drives.

Place the cups side by side in your table drawer to form neat compartments that keep small gadgets organized.

A fugitive drug kingpin, Ntoruka Emmanuel Chinedu, and an ex-international football player, Hunkarin Segun George, have been convicted and sentenced to a combined total of 24 years’ imprisonment by Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court, Lagos, for unlawful importation of 7.050 kilograms of cocaine into Nigeria.

Chinedu was first arraigned in September 2015 on a one-count charge marked FHC/L/227c/2015 for unlawfully importing 6.250 kilograms of cocaine. He pleaded not guilty and was admitted to bail, but jumped bail midway into trial and remained at large for nearly 10 years.

An NDLEA statement signed by its Director, Media and Advocacy, Mr Femi Babafemi, on Monday said the convict was eventually re-arrested by operatives of the Agency on 24th June 2025, at the Lagos International Airport, while attempting to smuggle 800 grams of cocaine on an inbound Ethiopian Airlines flight from Addis Ababa.

Investigation showed that the convict was coming from Turkey on Ethiopian Airlines flight but transited through Addis Ababa, Ethiopia where he collected the luggage from another person before heading to Nigeria.

Further checks revealed that an accomplice who turned out to be a former professional footballer, Segun George Hunkarin, was waiting for Chinedu at the airport carpark to collect the consignment from him. Hunkarin, who had stayed years in Brazil playing for football clubs, was promptly tracked and arrested at the carpark.

In his statement, Hunkarin claimed that while playing professional football in the South American country, he had only trafficked drugs twice from Brazil to Ethiopia.

Both Chinedu and Hunkarin were subsequently arraigned on a three-count charge marked FHC/L/669C/2025 for unlawful importation of 800grams of cocaine.

Delivering judgment on Friday, 24th July 2026, Justice Kakaki sentenced Chinedu to 20 years’ imprisonment without an option of fine for the unlawful importation of 6.250 kilograms of cocaine, and a further two years, also without an option of fine, for conspiring with Hunkarin to unlawfully import 800 grams of cocaine, bringing his total sentence to 22 years.

Hunkarin was sentenced to two years imprisonment on the conspiracy charge, bringing the combined jail terms to 24 years imprisonment.

Reviewing the facts of the case, prosecuting counsel, Barrister Adekunle Adebajo, reminded the court that Chinedu had earlier been arraigned before Justice Salihu Saudi (now retired) in 2015 on the same importation charge but vanished after being granted bail.

Citing a plethora of legal authorities, the NDLEA prosecutor urged the court to sentence the convicts in line with the relevant provisions of the NDLEA Act.

Defence counsel, Chief Benson Ndakara for Chinedu and Chief Emefo Etudo for Hunkarin, had pleaded with the court for leniency and urged that fine options be considered in lieu of custodial sentences.

The court, however, after a careful review of the submissions, cited authorities and tendered exhibits, sentenced both convicts to prison terms without any option of fine.

Reacting to the conviction, the 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 and those who perpetrate it, no matter how long they evade justice.

Marwa also commended the officers, men and women of the Agency involved in the arrest, investigation and prosecution of the case, noting that the eventual re-arrest of Chinedu after nearly ten years on the run demonstrated the doggedness, patience and thoroughness of NDLEA operatives in tracking down fugitives and ensuring that no drug trafficker escapes the long arm of the law.