A Federal High Court in Lagos has authorised the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to keep socialite and celebrity jeweller Afolabi Kazeem Micheal, popularly known as KC Luxury, in custody for another 30 days over an alleged drug trafficking investigation.
Gatekeepers News reports that Justice Akintayo Aluko granted the order on August 20, following an application by the NDLEA seeking additional time to investigate KC Luxury’s alleged involvement in a drug trafficking operation.
KC Luxury was arrested by NDLEA operatives on August 13 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, while preparing to travel to Paris.
The anti-drug agency had linked him to the seizure of 184.5 kilogrammes of cocaine, which it described as its largest cocaine interception involving a courier company.
According to NDLEA Chairman Buba Marwa, KC Luxury was allegedly found with €7,750, £2,800 and ₦100,000, as well as expensive jewellery, at the time of his arrest. The agency also arrested Lawal Kehinde, an employee of a logistics company allegedly connected to the cocaine consignment.
NDLEA said preliminary investigations indicated that Nigeria was being used as a transit hub for illicit drugs destined for the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia. The agency also described KC Luxury as the alleged “Nigerian arrowhead” of the suspected cartel operation.
In addition to extending his detention, the court granted an interim preservatory order over funds in accounts linked to KC Luxury’s Bank Verification Number (BVN). The order prevents withdrawals or other dealings with the affected funds pending the conclusion of the investigation and/or prosecution.
The latest order comes as KC Luxury separately challenges his continued detention. His father, Eric Afolabi, filed an application on his behalf before Justice Friday Ogazi, arguing that his son had remained in NDLEA custody without being formally charged or informed of the offence for which he was arrested.
Justice Ogazi has ordered the NDLEA to respond to the allegations within five days and produce KC Luxury in court at the next hearing. That case has been adjourned until September 9, while the detention-extension matter before Justice Aluko was adjourned until September 17 for a report on the investigation.
KC Luxury has not been convicted of any offence, and the allegations against him remain subject to investigation and judicial determination.
