A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has convicted and sentenced a fugitive drug baron, Ntoruka Emmanuel Chinedu, to a total term of imprisonment for the unlawful importation of cocaine.

While delivering judgment yesterday, Justice Musa Kakaki found the defendant guilty of the charges brought against him by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.

The court also convicted his accomplice, Hunkarin Segun George, sentencing him to a separate prison term for his role in the conspiracy and unlawful importation of the prohibited substance.

The prosecution had told the court that Chinedu was initially arraigned years earlier on charges of unlawful importation of cocaine but was granted bail after pleading not guilty. He, however, absconded during the trial and remained at large until he was re-arrested at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport while arriving on an international flight.

Following his arrest, he was re-arraigned alongside George on counts bordering on conspiracy and unlawful importation of cocaine.

At the resumed hearing, both defendants indicated their intention to change their plea, which was subsequently taken by the court.

Prosecuting counsel, Adekunle Adebajo, reviewed the facts of the case and urged the court to convict and sentence the defendants in line with relevant provisions of the law, recalling that the principal defendant had previously fled after being admitted to bail.

Counsel to the defendants, Benson Ndakara and Emefo Etudo, pleaded for leniency and urged the court to consider non-custodial options.

Justice Kakaki held that the prosecution had established its case and imposed custodial sentences on the convicts without the option of a fine.