A Federal High Court in Lagos has granted the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) another 30 days to keep socialite and celebrity jeweller Afolabi Kazeem Micheal, popularly known as KC Luxury, in custody as investigations into alleged drug trafficking continue.
Justice Akintayo Aluko granted the order on August 20, following an application by the NDLEA seeking more time to investigate KC Luxury’s alleged connection to a 184.5kg cocaine seizure.
KC Luxury was arrested by NDLEA operatives on August 13 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos while he was preparing to travel to Paris.
According to NDLEA Chairman Buba Marwa, the suspect was allegedly found with €7,750, £2,800, N100,000 and expensive jewellery at the time of his arrest. He was arrested alongside Lawal Kehinde, an employee of a logistics company who the agency said was linked to the cocaine consignment.
The NDLEA has described KC Luxury as the “Nigerian arrowhead” of a drug cartel allegedly using Nigeria as a transit point for narcotics destined for the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia.
KC Luxury, however, is challenging his continued detention.
Through his father, Eric Afolabi, he approached the court, arguing that he had neither been formally charged nor told the specific offence for which he was arrested.
The court handling that application directed the NDLEA to respond within five days and ordered the agency to produce KC Luxury at the next hearing. The case has been adjourned until September 9.
In a separate ruling, the court also granted an interim preservatory order freezing funds in KC Luxury’s Providus Bank account and other accounts linked to his Bank Verification Number (BVN).
The order prevents withdrawals or other dealings with the affected funds while the NDLEA’s investigation and any possible prosecution continue.
The matter has been adjourned until September 17 for the agency to report back to the court on the progress of its investigation.
KC Luxury has not been convicted of any offence, and the allegations against him remain subject to the outcome of the investigation and any subsequent court proceedings.