The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arraigned a luxury goods dealer and lifestyle influencer, Afolabi Kazeem Michael, popularly known as KC Luxury, and two others over an alleged attempt to export 184.5 kilogrammes of cocaine to the United Kingdom. The defendants were arraigned before the Federal High Court in Lagos on a 22-count charge related to cocaine trafficking, unlawful export of narcotic drugs, and money laundering.
The two other defendants, Boniface Freeman Ochoche Sule and Ikechukwu Ekugo Patriarch, were arraigned alongside Afolabi. They pleaded not guilty to all the charges. The charges alleged that the defendants conspired between July 28 and August 1, 2026, with Atandare Oladipupo Oluwarotimi and Latifat Yusuf, who were reportedly arrested in London, to export the cocaine concealed in five consignments.
The consignments, bearing specific Airway Bill numbers, were allegedly shipped under the name Yemi Ejide through a Lagos-based courier company. The NDLEA alleged that Boniface procured Ikechukwu to facilitate the shipment, while Afolabi allegedly enlisted a staff member of BOT Express Logistics to process the consignments. The agency further alleged that Afolabi paid N13.2 million from a Zenith Bank account belonging to Mallamawa Ventures to BOT Express Logistics in connection with the shipment.
The NDLEA also accused Afolabi of laundering several billions of naira through companies and personal accounts. The accounts included Mallamawa Ventures, Fateey Man Multi-Purpose Nigeria Limited, Patonifa Limited, Ade-Lak Resources, Holmestas Global Services Limited, and La Capital Enterprises. The agency alleged that some of the funds were used to acquire vehicles and landed properties to conceal their alleged illicit origin.
Afolabi was also accused of failing to declare his assets. The NDLEA prosecutor, Abu Ibrahim, opposed the defendants’ bail applications and urged the court to remand them, citing the gravity of the alleged offences. The court subsequently ordered their remand in the NDLEA facility.
The matter has been adjourned until October 4, 2026, for ruling on the bail application. The defendants are facing serious charges, and their fate will be determined in the coming weeks. The NDLEA is working to bring the defendants to justice and to disrupt the narcotics trade.
The case highlights the efforts of the NDLEA to combat drug trafficking and money laundering in Nigeria. The agency is working tirelessly to identify and prosecute individuals involved in the narcotics trade. The arraignment of KC Luxury and two others demonstrates the agency's commitment to enforcing the law and protecting the country from the scourge of drug trafficking.
Key points
- The NDLEA arraigned KC Luxury and two others for attempting to export 184.5kg of cocaine to the UK.
- The defendants are facing 22 counts of cocaine trafficking, unlawful export of narcotic drugs, and money laundering.
- The court has ordered the defendants to be remanded in the NDLEA facility until October 4, 2026.
