A Lagos Federal High Court on Friday remanded influencer and luxury goods dealer Afolabi Kazeem Michael, popularly known as KC Luxury, and two co-defendants over the alleged trafficking and attempted export of 184.5 kilogrammes of cocaine valued at about N39 billion.
Michael, Boniface Freeman Ochoche Sule and Ikechukwu Ekugo Patriarch were arraigned by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on a 22-count charge involving conspiracy, cocaine trafficking, illegal export of narcotics and money laundering. All three pleaded not guilty.
The case, marked FHC/LAG/CR/755/2026, centres on an alleged attempt to ship the cocaine to the United Kingdom between July 28 and August 1, 2026. According to the charge, the defendants worked with Atandare Oladipupo Oluwarotimi and Latifat Yusuf, who were arrested in London.
Prosecutors said the drug was concealed in five consignments sent through a Lagos courier company under the name Yemi Ejide. The packages carried airway bill numbers 2079998314, 8224082370, 2079973571, 7181131742 and 2211893902.
The NDLEA alleged that Sule procured Ekugo to help facilitate the shipment, while Michael engaged a staff member of BOT Express Logistics on Lagos Island to process the consignments. Michael was also accused of possessing the cocaine in preparation for export. Prosecutors further claimed that N13.2 million was transferred from a Zenith Bank account belonging to Mallamawa Ventures to BOT Express Logistics to cover the shipping costs.
Sixteen additional counts against Michael relate to alleged money laundering. The agency said he moved billions of naira through accounts linked to Mallamawa Ventures, Fateey Man Multi-Purpose Nigeria Limited, Patonifa Limited, Ade-Lak Resources, Holmestas Global Services Limited and La Capital Enterprises. Those funds were allegedly used to buy vehicles and landed properties in an effort to conceal the proceeds of the suspected drug trade. Michael was also accused of failing to declare his assets as required by law.
NDLEA prosecutor Abu Ibrahim opposed bail for the three defendants and asked the court to keep them in custody pending trial. Justice of the Federal High Court ordered that they be remanded in NDLEA custody and adjourned the matter to October 4, 2026, for a ruling on their bail applications.
Michael was arrested by NDLEA operatives on August 13 while attempting to board a business-class flight to Paris from Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos. The arrest followed the seizure of the 184.5kg cocaine consignment destined for London.
A subsequent search of Michael and his Banana Island apartment reportedly yielded exotic vehicles, foreign currencies and jewellery suspected to be proceeds of illicit trafficking.
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