Court Dismisses Socialite KC Luxury’s Suit Challenging Detention Order Over Alleged Cocaine Trafficking

MICHAEL AKINOLA

A Federal High Court, Lagos, has dismissed an application filed by Afolabi Michael Kazeem, popularly known as KC Luxury, seeking to overturn an order extending his detention for 30 days over alleged involvement in trafficking 184.5 kilograms of cocaine.

The court held that the detention extension order granted on August 20, 2026, was properly issued and backed by the Constitution and relevant drug-control laws.

Kazeem, through his lawyer, Abdulakeem Labi-Lawal (SAN), had asked the court to set aside or strike out the order, arguing that the court lacked jurisdiction to extend his detention.

The lawyer contended that only a Magistrate Court could issue a remand order under Sections 293 to 299 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015, describing the detention extension as an unlawful interference with the suspect’s constitutional right to personal liberty.

However, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), through its lawyer, Abu Ibrahim, dismissed the argument as a misconception of the nature of the order.

Abu maintained that the August 20 order was not a remand order under the ACJA but an extension of detention granted to enable the agency conduct detailed investigations into the alleged drug trafficking offence.

According to the ruling, Kazeem was arrested on August 13, 2026, at the departure hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, while allegedly attempting to travel to Paris, France.

The NDLEA told the court that the arrest followed the seizure of 184.5kg of cocaine at DHL, Ikeja, Lagos, alleging that the suspect was connected to the shipment.

Delivering judgment in the application on Wednesday, Justice Aluko held that Sections 293 to 299 of the ACJA, which deal with remand proceedings, were not applicable to the case before the court.

The judge also held that the Federal High Court has exclusive jurisdiction over drug-related matters by virtue of Section 251(1)(m) of the Constitution and Section 26(1) of the NDLEA Act.

The judge further held that the evidence presented by the NDLEA established reasonable suspicion of a drug-related offence, justifying temporary deprivation of liberty under Section 35 of the Constitution.

Justice Aluko consequently dismissed KC Luxury’s application for being an abuse of court process and lacking in merit.