Court Upholds 30-Day Detention of KC Luxury Over Alleged Cocaine Trafficking

The Federal High Court in Lagos has upheld a 30-day detention order against Afolabi Michael Kazeem, commonly known as KC Luxury, who is accused of involvement in cocaine trafficking. The court ruled that the order, extended on August 20, 2026, was valid and supported by the Constitution and drug-control laws. Kazeem's lawyers argued that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to extend his detention, citing Sections 293 to 299 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA), 2015.

However, the court dismissed this claim, stating that only a Magistrates’ Court could issue a remand order. The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) successfully argued that the August 20 order was an extension of detention, allowing for further investigation into the alleged drug trafficking offence. The court found that the NDLEA's evidence established reasonable suspicion of a drug-related offence, providing a lawful basis for Kazeem's temporary detention under Section 35 of the Constitution.

The case originated from Kazeem's arrest on August 13, 2026, at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, when he was allegedly attempting to leave for Paris, France. The NDLEA had seized 184.5 kilogrammes of cocaine from a DHL facility in Ikeja, Lagos, and claimed Kazeem was connected to the consignment. Following his arrest, the agency requested an additional 30 days to continue the investigation, leading to the court's order.

Kazeem's lawyers challenged the legality and jurisdiction of the extension, but the court dismissed their application as an abuse of court process and without merit. The ruling leaves the detention order in place, enabling the NDLEA to continue its investigation into the alleged cocaine trafficking.