Cocaine trafficking: KC Luxury, others remanded

The Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday remanded luxury goods dealer and lifestyle influencer, Afolabi Kazeem Michael, popularly known as KC Luxury, and two others over alleged cocaine trafficking and money laundering involving 184.5 kilogrammes of cocaine valued at about N39bn.

Michael, Boniface Sule and Ikechukwu Ekugo were arraigned by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on a 22-count charge bordering on conspiracy, cocaine trafficking, illegal export of narcotics and money laundering.

They pleaded not guilty to all the counts.

The prosecution alleged that N13.2m was transferred from a Zenith Bank account belonging to Mallamawa Ventures to BOT Express Logistics as payment for shipping five consignments allegedly containing the cocaine to the United Kingdom.

The charge also accused Michael of moving several billions of naira through various companies and personal accounts in transactions the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency alleged were connected to the proceeds of illicit drug trafficking.

Sixteen of the 22 counts against Michael bordered on alleged money laundering.

The agency claimed that the funds passed through Mallamawa Ventures, Fateey Man Multi-Purpose Nigeria Limited, Patonifa Limited, Ade-Lak Resources, Holmestas Global Services Limited and La Capital Enterprises.

It further alleged that some of the funds were used to acquire motor vehicles and landed properties in an attempt to conceal proceeds of the alleged illicit trade.

Michael was also accused of failing to declare his assets as required by law.

The case, marked FHC/LAG/CR/755/2026, relates to an alleged attempt to export the 184.5kg of cocaine to the United Kingdom between July 28 and August 1, 2026.

The NDLEA alleged that the three defendants conspired with two other suspects, Atandare Oladipupo Oluwarotimi and Latifat Yusuf, who have been arrested in London, to export the cocaine.

According to the charge, the cocaine was concealed in five consignments sent through a Lagos-based courier logistics company under the shipper’s name, Yemi Ejide.

The consignments reportedly bore Airway Bill numbers 2079998314, 8224082370, 2079973571, 7181131742 and 2211893902.

In the first count, the prosecution alleged that the defendants conspired with Oluwarotimi and Yusuf to export the cocaine, an offence punishable under Section 14(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act.

The prosecution further alleged that Sule procured Ekugo to facilitate the export, while Michael allegedly procured a staff member of BOT Express Logistics, Lagos Island, to process the consignments.

Michael was also accused of unlawfully possessing the cocaine in preparation for its export.

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

The court subsequently ordered that the three defendants be remanded in NDLEA custody and adjourned the case until October 4, 2026, for ruling on their bail applications.

Michael, who also goes by KayCee Luxury, KayCee Lux, KC, Mr Luxury and Yemi Ejide, was arrested by NDLEA operatives on August 13 while allegedly attempting to leave Nigeria on a business-class flight to Paris from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.

His arrest followed the interception of the 184.5kg cocaine consignment allegedly destined for London.

A subsequent search for his person and his Banana Island apartment reportedly led to the recovery of exotic vehicles, foreign currencies and jewellery, which the agency said were suspected proceeds of illicit drug trafficking.