Crime Watch:
Alleged Drug Trafficking: KC Luxury, Two Others Remanded After Arraignment
They all pleaded not guilty to the a 22-count charge bordering on drug trafficking, money laundering and related offences.
A court gavel
A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the remand of social media influencer Afolabi Kazeem Michael, popularly known as KC Luxury, and two others, pending a ruling on their bail applications.
Justice Musa Kakaki gave the order after the trio was arraigned by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, on a 22-count charge bordering on drug trafficking, money laundering and related offences.
According to the charge, Kazeem, also known as KayCee Luxury, KC, Yemi Ejide and other aliases, is standing trial alongside Boniface Freeman Ochoche Sule and Ikechukwu Ekugo Patriarch.
They all pleaded not guilty to the charges.
According to the prosecution, the three defendants conspired with two other persons, Atandare Oladipupo Oluwarotimi and Latifat Yusuf, who the charge says have been arrested in London, to export 184.5 kilogrammes of cocaine to the United Kingdom in five consignments.
The prosecution further alleged that Kazeem procured a logistics operator to facilitate the shipment and transferred ₦13.2 million as payment for the export.
Kazeem is also facing several counts of alleged money laundering and dealings in proceeds of unlawful activity.
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The prosecution alleged that he used various companies and bank accounts to move hundreds of millions of naira through different entities, before directing transfers to other individuals and companies in an attempt to conceal or disguise the origin of the funds.
Counts seven to 17 contain various allegations involving sums ranging from N50 million to ₦924.24 million and ₦790.35 million, allegedly transferred through companies and bank accounts linked to the defendants.
The prosecution further alleged that ₦528.5 million was transferred to a motor company for the acquisition of vehicles with proceeds of unlawful activity, while another count alleges the transfer of ₦1.035 billion for motor vehicles.
In count 21, the prosecution alleged that Kazeem acquired motor vehicles and landed properties between 2024 and August 4, 2026, knowing or having reason to know that they formed part of the proceeds of unlawful activity.
Following their pleas, the prosecution counsel, Ibrahim Abu, asked the court to remand the defendants and fix a date for trial.
But counsel for the defendants, led by A. Labi-Lawal, SAN, and Benson Ndankara, informed the court that they had filed applications seeking bail and that the prosecution had been duly served.
The defence urged the court to hear the bail applications, while the prosecution opposed the applications and urged the court to refuse bail.
Counsel for Kazeem also urged the court to grant him bail on health grounds, telling the judge that documents supporting the application had been attached.
After hearing the submissions, Justice Kakaki fixed October 2 for ruling on the bail applications and ordered that the defendants remain in custody pending the ruling.
Kazeem was arrested by the NDLEA on August 13 at the departure hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, while allegedly attempting to travel to Paris, France.
The agency had linked his arrest to the seizure of 184.5 kilogrammes of cocaine at a DHL facility in Ikeja, Lagos.
The allegations are contained in the charge and remain to be proved in court.
