Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered that KC Luxury, Boniface Sule, and Ikechukwu Patriarch be kept in the custody of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) over allegations of exporting 184.5 kilograms of cocaine to the United Kingdom. The defendants were docked before the court on a 22-count amended charge of conspiracy, illegal possession, procurement, cocaine exportation, and money laundering.
According to the prosecutor, Abu Ibrahim, the defendants allegedly conspired between July 28 and August 1, 2026, with two individuals, Atandare Oladipupo Oluwarotimi and Latifat Yusuf, who were arrested and detained in London, to send the cocaine to the UK. The alleged cocaine was shipped in five parcels using DHL Express Logistics at the NAHCO complex at Murtala Muhammed International Airport (MMIA), Ikeja.
The parcels had five different air waybill numbers — 2079998314, 8224082370, 2079973571, 7181131742, and 2211893902 — with "Yemi Ejide" listed as the shipper. The prosecution alleged that Sule arranged for Ekugo Patriarch to help with the export via DHL at the airport, while Michael involved Lawal Mujab Kehinde of BOT Express Logistics to facilitate the shipment.
The prosecution also alleged that Michael transferred N13.2 million on July 31, 2026, from Mallamawa Ventures' account to cover the freight costs. The export was completed on August 3, 2026, through DHL at MMIA. The defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charge.
Based on their pleas, Ibrahim urged the court to fix a trial date and remand the defendants to a correctional facility. However, defence counsel Abdulakeem Labi-Lawal told the judge he had filed a bail application and urged the court to grant his clients bail on liberal terms.
Justice Kakaki has fixed October 3 for ruling on the bail application. The NDLEA alleged in the charge that Michael laundered proceeds from drug dealings through various personal and corporate bank accounts, with hundreds of millions of Naira passing through companies like PATONIFA Ltd, Ade-Lak Resources, Holmestas Global Services Ltd, LA Capital Enterprises, and Rikadawa Farms Ltd.
The case has raised concerns about the involvement of high-profile individuals in drug trafficking and money laundering in Nigeria. The NDLEA and other law enforcement agencies have been working to curb the menace of drug trafficking in the country. The trial will continue on October 3.
Key points
- KC Luxury and two others were remanded in custody over alleged cocaine exportation and money laundering.
- The defendants allegedly conspired to export 184.5 kilograms of cocaine to the United Kingdom.
- Justice Kakaki fixed October 3 for ruling on the bail application.
