Justice Friday Ogazi of the Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to produce social media influencer and businessman Kazeem Afolabi, popularly known as KC Luxury, before the court over his alleged 14-day detention without charge.
The judge also directed the anti-drug agency to respond within five days to Afolabi’s application challenging his continued detention and explain why he should not be released or granted bail.
The order followed an ex parte application filed by Afolabi through his lawyer, A. Labi-Lawal, SAN, under the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009.
Afolabi was allegedly arrested by NDLEA operatives at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos while preparing to travel to Paris.
His father, Eric Afolabi, who swore to the affidavit supporting the application, alleged that his son had remained in NDLEA custody since his arrest without being told the offence for which he was detained or being charged before a court.
Following yesterday hearing, Justice Ogazi ordered Afolabi to serve the NDLEA with the motion, enrolled order and other accompanying processes within four working days.
The judge directed the agency to file its response within five days of receiving the documents and produce Afolabi in court at the next hearing.
The case was adjourned until 9 September 2026.
Afolabi challenges detention
In his substantive application, Afolabi is asking the court to declare his continued detention without a formal charge unconstitutional and a violation of his fundamental rights under the 1999 Constitution.
He is seeking an order for his immediate release or, alternatively, admission to bail on liberal terms pending the filing of any criminal charge.
The applicant also alleged that NDLEA operatives searched his residence at Movamo Court, Banana Island, Lagos, without showing him or his family a search warrant.
According to the affidavit, nothing incriminating was recovered from the premises.
Afolabi further alleged that the operatives seized his iPhone 15 and demanded its password, threatening him with bodily harm if he refused to provide it.
He claimed the phone contained private information belonging to him and his wife and that its examination revealed no narcotics, drug-related transactions or communications linking him to any offence.
Influencer demands N190m damages
Afolabi also accused the NDLEA of taking and circulating photographs and videos of him in custody, allegedly portraying him as a criminal despite having not been convicted.
He argued that the alleged publication violated his rights to dignity and privacy and exposed him to ridicule and humiliation.
He is demanding N100m in damages over the alleged publication of his photographs and videos, N50m over his alleged unlawful arrest and detention, and N40m for the alleged invasion of his home and telephone privacy.
He is also seeking the return of properties allegedly seized from him, including €8,000, £3,000, luxury watches, Hermès and Louis Vuitton items, an iPhone 15, a Lexus RX350 and a 2024 Toyota Hilux.
Afolabi maintained that the properties were not acquired from proceeds of narcotics or other criminal activities.
NDLEA links arrest to cocaine investigation
The NDLEA, however, linked Afolabi’s arrest to an investigation involving the interception of 184.50kg of cocaine allegedly connected to an international drug trafficking network.
The agency alleged that the network used Nigeria as a transit route for cocaine shipments destined for the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia.
It further alleged that the investigation led to the seizure of foreign currencies and luxury items and prompted searches linked to Afolabi.
Afolabi also told the court that he suffers from acute and severe asthma and requires urgent medical treatment, which he alleged the detention facility cannot adequately provide.
He said he has a permanent address in Lagos, strong family and business ties in Nigeria, and is willing to surrender his international passport and comply with any bail conditions imposed by the court.
