Okafor Emmanuel Junior, a former professional footballer has bagged a 5-year jail sentence for drug trafficking.

A prosecutor, Augustine Nwagu, had told a Federal High Court in Lagos that Emmanuel was arrested by operatives of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) at the arrival hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, with 1.4 kilograms of cocaine upon arriving the country from Brazil on September 26, 2022.

The offense contravened section 11(a) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap N30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and is punishable under the same Act.

After he pleaded guilty to the charges, the prosecutor asked the court to sentence him in accordance with the section of the law he was charged with.

His lawyer, Dennis Warri, however, pleaded with the court to tamper justice with mercy in sentencing him as he has become remorseful since he was arrested and vowed not to get involved in crime.

Ruling on the case, Justice Nicholas Oweibo sentenced Emmanuel to five years imprisonment, starting from the date of his arrest.

The judge also gave him an option of a N1million fine in lieu of the jail terms.