By Oluwakemi Kindness
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, says a Federal High Court in Lagos has remanded lifestyle influencer Afolabi Kazeem-Michael, popularly known as KC Luxury, and two others over an alleged 184.5kg cocaine shipment bound for the United Kingdom.
The agency disclosed this in a statement signed by its Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, on Friday.
The other defendants are Boniface Freeman Ochoche Sule and Ikechukwu Ekugo Patriarch.
The NDLEA said the three men were arraigned before the Federal High Court in Lagos on a 22-count charge bordering on alleged cocaine trafficking, illegal export of narcotics and money laundering.
The defendants pleaded not guilty to all the charges.
According to the agency, the defendants allegedly conspired between July 28 and August 1, 2026, to export 184.5 kilogrammes of cocaine in five consignments through a Lagos-based courier logistics company to London.
The NDLEA said the first count also links the defendants to Atandare Oladipupo Oluwarotimi and Latifat Yusuf, who it said had been arrested in London over the same case.
The agency alleged that the consignments were shipped using five airway bill numbers and the shipper’s name, “Yemi Ejide”.
Other counts accuse Sule of allegedly procuring Patriarch to facilitate the export, while Michael allegedly recruited a staff member of BOT Express Logistics to process the consignment.
The charge also alleges that Michael unlawfully possessed the cocaine ahead of its export.
The NDLEA further alleged that ₦13.2 million was transferred from a Mallamawa Ventures Zenith Bank account to BOT Express Logistics as payment for the shipment.
Money Laundering Charges
Sixteen of the 22 counts relate to alleged money laundering by Michael.
According to the NDLEA, the charges allege that he moved several billions of naira through various company and personal accounts.
The agency listed Mallamawa Ventures, Fateey Man Multi-Purpose Nig. Ltd, Patonifa Ltd, Ade-Lak Resources, Holmestas Global Services Limited and La Capital Enterprises among the entities named in the charges.
The prosecution alleges that some of the funds were used to acquire vehicles and landed properties as part of an attempt to conceal their alleged source.
Michael is also accused of failing to declare his assets to the NDLEA as required by law.
Court Orders Remand
NDLEA prosecutor Abu Ibrahim opposed the defendants’ bail application and urged the court to remand them, citing the alleged seriousness of the offences.
The agency said the court subsequently ordered that the defendants be remanded in its custody.
The case was adjourned until October 4, 2026, for ruling on the bail application.
The NDLEA said Michael was arrested on August 13 while allegedly attempting to leave Nigeria on a business-class flight to Paris from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
The arrest followed the agency’s interception of the 184.5kg cocaine consignment, which the NDLEA estimates to be worth about ₦39 billion.
Babafemi said a subsequent search of Michael and his Banana Island apartment led to the recovery of exotic vehicles, foreign currency and jewellery allegedly linked to proceeds of the drug trade.
The agency said Michael had presented himself online as a luxury goods dealer and lifestyle influencer and used aliases including KayCee Luxury, KayCee Lux, KC, Mr. Luxury and Yemi Ejide.
The defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
