KC Luxury, two others face 22-count drug charges

LAGOS — The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has filed a 22-count charge against Afolabi Kazeem Michael, popularly known as KC Luxury, and two others over the alleged shipment of 184.5 kilogrammes of cocaine to London, United Kingdom.

Afolabi was arraigned alongside Boniface Freeman Ochoche Sule and Ikechukwu Ekugo Patriarch before Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday.

The three defendants pleaded not guilty to charges bordering on cocaine trafficking, illegal export of narcotics and money laundering.

The case, marked FHC/LAG/CR/755/2026, centres on allegations that the defendants conspired between July 28 and August 1, 2026, with Atandare Oladipupo Oluwarotimi and Latifat Yusuf, who the NDLEA said had been arrested in London, to export the cocaine in five consignments through a Lagos-based courier logistics company.

In the first count, the NDLEA alleged that the defendants conspired to export the cocaine in consignments bearing five airway bill numbers and shipped under the name Yemi Ejide.

The charge sheet states that the defendants allegedly conspired to export 184.5kg of cocaine contained in five consignments with airway bill numbers 2079998314, 8224082370, 2079973571, 7181131742 and 2211893902, with the shipper’s name listed as “Yemi Ejide.”

The alleged offence was said to be contrary to and punishable under Section 14(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Other counts accuse Sule of allegedly procuring Ekugo to facilitate the export, while Afolabi was accused of procuring a staff member of BOT Express Logistics on Lagos Island to process the consignments.

Afolabi was also accused of unlawfully possessing the cocaine ahead of its intended export.

The charge sheet further alleges that N13.2 million was transferred from an account belonging to Mallamawa Ventures with Zenith Bank to BOT Express Logistics as payment for the shipment.

Sixteen of the counts relate to alleged money laundering. The NDLEA accused Afolabi of moving billions of naira through corporate and personal accounts linked to Mallamawa Ventures, Fateey Man Multi-Purpose Nig. Ltd, Patonifa Ltd, Ade-Lak Resources, Holmestas Global Services Limited and La Capital Enterprises.

The agency further alleged that the funds were used, among other things, to acquire motor vehicles and landed properties in an attempt to conceal the alleged proceeds of illicit activities.

Afolabi was also accused of failing to declare his assets to the agency as required by law.

Following the defendants’ pleas, NDLEA prosecutor, Abu Ibrahim, opposed their bail applications and urged the court to remand them in custody, citing the gravity of the alleged offences.

Justice Kakaki subsequently ordered that the defendants be remanded in an NDLEA facility and adjourned the case until October 4, 2026, for ruling on their bail applications.

According to the NDLEA, Afolabi was arrested by its operatives on August 13 after he allegedly attempted to leave Nigeria on a business-class flight to Paris from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

The arrest followed the interception of the 184.5kg cocaine shipment, which the agency estimated to be worth about N39 billion.

The NDLEA said a subsequent search of Afolabi and his Banana Island apartment led to the recovery of exotic vehicles, foreign currency and jewellery allegedly linked to proceeds of the illicit trade.

The case was adjourned until October 4, 2026, for ruling on the bail applications.

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