A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the remand of a social media influencer, Afolabi Kazeem Michael, popularly known as KC Luxury, and two others in the custody of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). The order was given by Justice Musa Kakaki pending the determination of their bail applications. The trio was arraigned before the court on a 22-count charge bordering on drug trafficking, money laundering, and related offences.
According to the charges, Kazeem, alongside Boniface Freeman Ochoche Sule and Ikechukwu Ekugo Patriarch, were alleged to have conspired to export 184.5 kilograms of cocaine to London. Kazeem alone faces several counts relating to alleged money laundering and dealings in proceeds of unlawful activity. The prosecution alleged that Kazeem used various companies and bank accounts to move hundreds of millions of naira through different entities.
The prosecution also alleged that Kazeem directed transfers to other persons or companies with the intention of concealing or disguising their origin. The 22-count charge stated that Kazeem, Sule, and Patriarch conspired with Atandare Oladipupo Oluwarotimi and Latifat Yusuf, who were arrested in London, to export the cocaine in five consignments to the United Kingdom.
Kazeem was arrested by the NDLEA on August 13 at the departure hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, while allegedly attempting to travel to Paris, France. The agency alleged that his arrest was connected with the seizure of 184.5kg of cocaine at a DHL facility in Ikeja, Lagos. The defendants pleaded not guilty to the charge.
The prosecutor, Ibrahim Abu, prayed the court for a trial date and for the remand of the defendants in prison custody. The defendants' counsel, led by A. Labi-Lawal (SAN) and Chief Benson Ndankara, informed the court of their pending applications seeking bail for the defendants. The defendants' counsel pleaded for the hearing of the applications.
The trial judge, Justice Kakaki, fixed October 2 for ruling and ordered the remand of the defendants pending the ruling. The prosecution did not oppose the hearing of the defendants' application but urged the court to reject the bail. The defendants' counsel prayed the court to grant bail to Kazeem on health grounds.
Under the new charges, the prosecution alleged that Kazeem procured a logistics operator to facilitate the shipment and transferred N13.2 million as payment for its export. Counts seven to 17 contain various allegations of money laundering involving sums ranging from N50 million to N924.24 million and N790.35 million.
Key points
- The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the remand of KC Luxury and two others over a 22-count charge related to drug trafficking and money laundering.
- The defendants were alleged to have conspired to export 184.5 kilograms of cocaine to London.
- The trial judge, Justice Kakaki, fixed October 2 for ruling and ordered the remand of the defendants pending the ruling.
