Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court in Lagos has refused to grant bail to businessman and social media influencer, Afolabi Kazeem, popularly known as KC Luxury. Kazeem is facing charges of alleged 184.5kg cocaine trafficking and money laundering. The judge ruled that the defence had failed to establish special circumstances to warrant bail on medical grounds. The application lacked sufficient evidence to justify the defendant’s release.
The judge held that no medical certificate warranted the court granting him bail. Kakaki directed the Ikoyi Custodial Centre to grant Kazeem unrestricted access to doctors and medical experts to treat any health condition. At the last proceedings, Kazeem was brought to the court premises in an ambulance while receiving oxygen. His counsel, Emefo Etudo, had urged the court to grant him bail to enable him to receive specialised medical treatment at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital.
Etudo argued that Kazeem’s health had deteriorated, particularly following the collapse of his lungs, which was disclosed by the Police Hospital, Falomo. Opposing the application, prosecution counsel, Abu Ibrahim, argued that the medical evidence presented by the defence did not sufficiently justify the defendant’s release. Ibrahim stated that the defence had not presented a medical document from LUTH showing that the hospital could not manage Kazeem’s condition.
When the case was called, a correctional officer from the Ikoyi Custodial Centre, Adeleye Akin, informed the court that Kazeem was still at the Police Hospital in Falomo. Delivering his ruling, Kakaki said he had considered the bail application, the records of the court, and the submissions of counsel on both sides. The judge held that an applicant seeking bail must provide sufficient and cogent evidence to establish why the court should grant the request.
Kakaki reviewed the medical evidence previously presented by the defence, including exhibits AK5, AK6, and AK8, which contained photographs of an individual lying on a hospital bed receiving treatment. The judge recalled that in his ruling delivered on October 2, 2026, the court had noted a medical officer’s recommendation that Kazeem be assessed by a consultant respiratory physician or pulmonologist to evaluate his condition.
The judge said the recommendation did not establish that the defendant was suffering from an untreated illness. He questioned the claim that the defendant could not be treated in a Nigerian hospital when the same application sought his release to enable him to receive treatment at the teaching hospital. Kakaki also said the defence had failed to demonstrate any change in circumstances to justify a fresh bail application.
The case was adjourned until November 2, 2026, for the commencement of trial. Kazeem is standing trial alongside Boniface Freeman Ochoche Sule and Ikechukwu Ekugo Patriarch over alleged 184.5kg cocaine trafficking and money laundering.
Key points
- The court ordered an accelerated hearing of the case.
- KC Luxury was denied bail due to insufficient medical evidence.
- The defendant will have unrestricted access to medical experts while in custody.
