Cocaine trafficking : Court declines bail to businessman KC Luxury, others
By Onyewuchi Ojinnaka
Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court, sitting in Ikoyi Lagos on Friday declined bail to a popular businessman, Afolabi Michael Kazeem, also known as KC Luxury, and two others, Boniface Sule and Ikechukwu Ekugo who were arraigned last week over alleged trafficking of 184.5 Kilograms of cocaine, and other offences.
Justice Kakaki had last week Friday fixed October 2 for ruling on the bail application filed by the defendants following their arraignment and hearing of their bail application.
The arrest and arraignment of KC Luxury and others followed the seizure of 184.5kg of Cocaine at DHL, Ikeja, Lagos, with the agency alleging that KC Luxury was connected to the shipment.
When only him was arraigned, he pleaded not guilty to 21 of the 22-count amended charge bordering on alleged illegal exportation and possession of hard drugs as well as alleged money laundering.
According to the 22 counts charge filed by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agecy, (NDLEA), KC Luxury was also alleged to have conspired with two other persons, Atandare Oladipupo Oluwarotimi and Latifat Yusuf, both said to have been arrested in London in connection with the same case, to export the narcotic drug using consignments bearing Airway Bill Numbers, under the shipper’s name Yemi Ejide.
Following their arraignment, defence counsel, Mr Abdulhakeem Labi-lawal (SAN) leading Barrister Uche Okoronkwo and others asked the court to grant bail to the first defendant who has been in detention in the most liberal terms, so that he can be able to access specialized care outside detention.
He relied on two medical reports issued by the 1st defendant’s personal physician, and the one signed by NDLEA’s head of medical facility, which stated that the first defendant suffers from chronic asthma, and had recorded episodes of wheezing and breathlessness while in their custody since August 13, 2016.
The Silk lawyer Labi-Lawal also argued that there was no evidence by the NDLEA that his client would interfere with the trial or intimidate the witnesses or that he concealed or destroyed evidence in the case. He added that as at the time he was embarking on the trip to Paris, he had no knowledge of any investigation about his alleged dealings with banned drugs.
”Arresting him at the airport shouldn’t be seen as an attempt to evade arrest. We believe that the operatives saw his (KC Luxury’s) video at the airport which he posted online before coming to arrest him there. The NDLEA even acknowledged in the court processes that he followed the operatives honorably, as a law-abiding citizen.”
In his own submission, counsel for the second and third defendants, Chief Benson Ndakara also asked the court to grant bail to Boniface Sule and Ikechukwu Ekugo submitting that both men willingly reported at the NDLEA office, upon receiving their letters of invitation concerning the case.
In his response, the lead prosecutor, Abu Ibrahim Esq. said the agency had been looking for individual(s) linked to the seizure of the drugs made on August 3, 2026, as the shipper’s name on the consignments said to be Yemi Ejide, was a pseudonym of the first defendant, before he was arrested on August 13, 2026.
In his objections to the defendants’ bail applications, Abu said the gravity of the alleged offences and the severity of the punishment must be considered before bail is granted, adding that there was a greater propensity for the defendants to jump bail. Consequently, he urged the court to grant accelerated hearing instead.
After listening to argument by both sides, Justice Kakaki adjourned for ruling on the bail applications till Friday October 2. He also granted the requests of the defence counsel that the three defendants be remanded at the NDLEA’s facility till the next adjourned date.
Ruling on the defendants’ bail applications on Friday (today), Justice Kakaki held that bail is at the discretion of the court which must be used judicially and judiciously.
He added that Section 162 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, (ACJA), is not all in all, as it is still subject to the discretion of the court.
” Despite the conditions laid out for the grants of bail for a defendant, the discretion of the court is not ousted”
The trial judge said he had taken cognisance of the quantity of the drug involved ,184.5 kilogrammes of Cocaine, the prevalence of drug trafficking and the menace of hard drug in the society.
He further stated that the materials placed before the court has no weight to persuade the court to exercise its discretion in favour of granting bail to the defendants.
” Consequently bail is refused , defendants are hereby remanded in the custody of the Nigeria Correctional Services. Accelerated hearing is granted for day to day trial of the case”
Justice Kakaki consequently adjourned the matter till November 2, 3, 4 and 5, 2026 for trial.
One of the 22 Counts reads:
”That you Afolabi Kazeem Michael aka. Kaycee Luxury, RC, Yemi Ejide, Boniface Freeman Ochoche Sole and Ikechudowu Ekugo Patriarch, Male adults, on or about the 3rd day of August 2026 at the DHL Express Hub located within the National Handling Company which is a Customs Area/Point of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos without lawful authority exported 184.5 Kilograms of Cocaine, a narcotic Drug contained in five (5) shipments with Airways Bill Number 2079908314, 8224067370, 2079873571, 7181131742, 2211883902, with shipper’s name as Yemi Ejide, and you thereby committed an act which is an offence against and punisshable under Section 11 (b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act Cap 30 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.”
