A Federal High Court in Lagos has upheld a 30-day extension of the detention of socialite and businessman Kazeem Michael Afolabi, widely known as KC Luxury, due to his alleged involvement in trafficking 184.5 kilograms of cocaine. The court dismissed his request to have the extension revoked.
Justice Akintayo Aluko delivered the ruling on Thursday, rejecting arguments made by Afolabi's lawyer, Abdulakeem Labi-Lawal, SAN. Labi-Lawal claimed that the court did not have jurisdiction to extend his client's detention since he had not yet been formally charged. He argued that only a Magistrate Court could issue a remand order according to Sections 293 to 299 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), asserting that the extension violated Afolabi's right to personal liberty.
However, Justice Aluko determined that those provisions of the ACJA were not applicable in this case, affirming that under Section 251(1)(m) of the Constitution and Section 26(1) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) Act, the Federal High Court has exclusive jurisdiction over drug-related offenses.
The court initially granted the 30-day detention order on August 20 at the request of the NDLEA, allowing them to continue their investigation. Afolabi's arrest occurred after the NDLEA seized 184.5 kilograms of cocaine on August 3 at a DHL facility within the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company’s premises in Ikeja, Lagos.
This consignment, valued at approximately N39 billion, was noted as the agency's largest cocaine interception via a courier service. The NDLEA claimed the shipment was connected to an international trafficking network allegedly transporting cocaine from South America through Nigeria to various destinations in the United Kingdom, Europe, and Asia. NDLEA Chairman Buba Marwa identified Afolabi as the suspected “arrowhead” of this network in Nigeria.
Afolabi was apprehended on August 13 while reportedly preparing to depart for Paris at the departure hall of Murtala Muhammed International Airport. The agency stated that they recovered €7,750, £2,800, and N100,000 in cash from him, along with jewelry. A search of his residence on Banana Island revealed luxury vehicles and other valuable assets. Additionally, the court has frozen funds in Afolabi’s Providus Bank account and other accounts linked to his Bank Verification Number.
As it stands, Afolabi has not been formally charged with any offenses, and the allegations against him are still under investigation by the NDLEA. The case has been adjourned to September 21 for further proceedings.
