For second times in a month, the bail application filed by a businessman and social media influencer, Afolabi Michael Kazeem, popularly known as KC Luxury, has been rejected by Justice Musa Kakaki of a Federal High Court Lagos.
Afolabi alongside the dou of Boniface Freeman Ochoche Sule and Ikechukwu Ekugo Patriarch, are being tried before the cour by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on a 22 count-charge of alleged conspiracy, trafficking in 184.5 kilograms of cocaine and money laundering.
The offences they have all denied and pleaded not guilty to.
Based on their not guilty plea, their lawyers, including Abdulakeem Labi-Lawal (SAN), Uche Okoronkwo and Chief Benson Ndakara, urged the court to admit them to bail.
The applications were vehemently opposed by the NDLEA’s counsel, Abu Ibrahim.
Consequently, Justice Kakaki in a ruling delivered on October 20, dismissed the bail applications and ordered accelerated trial of the charge.
However, the first defendant in the charge, Afolabi Michael Kazeem a.k.a. KC Luxury, through another lawyer, Chief Emefo etudo, filed another application, wherein he prayed the court to grant him bail on medical grounds.
In moving the new bail application, KC Luxury’s lawyer Etudo said his client’s condition had deteriorated, alleging that he had suffered a lung collapse and required specialist attention.
The lawyer also told the court that the Police Hospital had referred Kazeem to LUTH because it lacked the facilities required to manage his condition surgically.
Etudo further alleged that the defendant was withdrawn from LUTH and taken to a correctional centre on October 13, despite his medical condition.
According to the defence, Kazeem’s health worsened while he was being conveyed to the correctional facility, forcing those accompanying him to return him to the Police Hospital, where he was admitted to the intensive care unit.
In opposing the new bail application, the prosecutor, Mr. Abu Ibrahim, told the court that the medical issues raised by the defence had substantially been dealt with and considered by the court in an earlier ruling.
Ibrahim also maintained that the defendant’s underlying ailment remained asthma, although it might have become more acute.
He also stated that the defence failed to provide medical documentation from LUTH establishing that the hospital could not manage the defendant’s condition.
The prosecutor therefore prayed the court to to dismiss the ‘fresh’ bail application, adding that Kazeem was a flight risk.
He however stated that should the court was mindful of granting bail to the defendant, such bail conditions stringent and such that will ensure the attendance of the defendant till the charge is determined.
Ruling on the ‘fresh’ bail application today, Justice Kakaki held that he had considered the bail application, the records of the court and the submissions of counsel on both sides. Adding that an applicant seeking bail must provide sufficient and cogent evidence to establish why the court should grant the request.
The judge also reviewed the medical evidence previously presented by the defence, including exhibits AK5, AK6 and AK8, which he said contained photographs of an individual lying on a hospital bed receiving treatment.
Justice Kakaki recalled that in his ruling delivered on October 2, 2026, he had noted a medical officer’s recommendation that Kazeem be assessed by a consultant respiratory physician or pulmonologist to evaluate his condition, optimise his treatment and prevent further acute episodes.
The judge said the recommendation did not establish that the defendant was suffering from an untreated illness.
He said, “Having gone through the records of the court and compared the ruling of October 2, 2026, I hereby discountenance all the exhibits.”
Addressing the defence’s argument that Kazeem needed specialised treatment at LUTH, Kakaki questioned the claim that the defendant could not be treated in a Nigerian hospital when the same application sought his release to enable him to receive treatment at the teaching hospital.
“Is it not ironic that the facility he said he cannot be treated in is the same LUTH he wants him to go for specialised treatment?
The judge also said the defence had failed to demonstrate any change in circumstances to justify a fresh bail application.
“However, changes in the circumstances were not disclosed.”
He recalled that on October 16, 2026, the court ordered that Kazeem be remanded in a custodial centre.
“There is inability to show special circumstances to warrant bail. I hereby discountenance it in the present application,” he said.
Kakaki further held that a claim of illness requiring specialist treatment should be supported by an expert’s assessment explaining the defendant’s condition.
“There was nothing stopping the Correctional Centre from calling an expert to attend to the first defendant, or using the first defendant’s doctor if he had one,” the judge said.
Refusing the application, Kakaki said, “the application is not granted; bail is refused to the first defendant. The case will proceed to accelerated hearing.
“Where there is any health issue, the Correctional Centre shall give unfettered access to a doctor or expert for his treatment.”
The judge consequently dismissed the bail application. While adjourned the matter to November 2, 3, 4 and 5 for commencement of trial.
The three defendants in a charge marked FHC/LAG/CR/755/2026, are accused of conspiring to export 184.5 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed in five consignments through a Lagos-based courier logistics company to London, United Kingdom.
NDLEA in the charge stated Kazeem, also known as Yemi Ejide and Kee Cee Luxury, allegedly conspired with Sule and Patriarch, as well as Atandare Oladipupo Oluwarotimi and Latifat Yusuf, who the NDLEA said had been arrested in London in connection with the case.
The five consignments allegedly bore Airway Bill Numbers 2079998314, 8224082370, 2079973571, 7181131742 and 2211893902, with Yemi Ejide listed as the shipper.
In the count one of the charge, the defendants alleged were allegedly to have conspired among themselves between July 28 and August 1, 2026, to unlawfully export the 184.5kg of cocaine. The action which is contrary to Section 14(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Other counts alleged that Sule procured Patriarch to facilitate the unlawfully export the cocaine, while Kazeem was alleged to have procured a staff member of BOT Express Logistics, Lagos Island, to process the consignments.
Kazeem was also accused of unlawfully possessing the cocaine in preparation for its export.
The NDLEA further alleged that Kazeem paid N13.2 million from a Mallamawa Ventures Zenith Bank account to BOT Express Logistics as consideration for the shipment.
The remaining counts largely concern alleged money laundering.
Kazeem was also accused of funnelled several billions of naira through various companies and personal accounts, including Mallamawa Ventures, Fateey Man Multi-Purpose Nigeria Limited, Patonifa Limited, Ade-Lak Resources, Holmestas Global Services Limited and La Capital Enterprises.
The prosecution alleged that some of the funds were used to acquire motor vehicles and landed properties in an attempt to conceal the alleged illicit origin of the proceeds.
He was also accused of failing to declare his assets to the NDLEA as required by law.
The defendants have pleaded not guilty to the allegations.
Kazeem, who allegedly portrayed himself online as a luxury goods dealer and lifestyle influencer, was arrested by NDLEA operatives on August 13, 2026, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, while allegedly attempting to leave the country on a business-class flight to Paris.
His arrest followed the interception of the 184.5kg cocaine consignment, which the agency said was worth about N39 billion.
The NDLEA also alleged that a subsequent search of Kazeem and his Banana Island residence led to the recovery of exotic vehicles, foreign currencies and jewellery believed to be proceeds of illicit activities.