A federal high court in Lagos has directed the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to produce socialite Afolabi Kazeem Micheal, popularly known as KayCee Luxury, at the next hearing of his case. The order came after the agency held him for more than 14 days without filing a formal charge against him.
The court's directive followed an ex parte application filed by his counsel, A. Labi-Lawal, SAN, under the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009. The application challenged the legality of his continued detention.
Arrest Linked to Record Cocaine Seizure
NDLEA operatives arrested KayCee Luxury on August 13 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, as he prepared to board a flight to Paris. The agency linked him to the seizure of 184.5kg of cocaine, which it described as the largest cocaine bust from a courier company in its history.
NDLEA chairman Buba Marwa said KayCee Luxury was allegedly found with €7,750, £2,800, N100,000 and expensive jewellery at the time of his arrest. A logistics company employee, Lawal Kehinde, was arrested alongside him. The agency described the socialite as the "Nigerian arrowhead" of a cartel allegedly using Nigeria as a transit point for illicit drugs headed to the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia.
KayCee Luxury's Claims in Court
In the court application, his father, Eric Afolabi, who signed the supporting affidavit on his son's behalf, stated that KayCee Luxury had been held in NDLEA custody without being told the reason for his arrest or brought before any court.
The socialite alleged that NDLEA operatives searched his Banana Island residence at Movamo Court, Lagos, without presenting a search warrant, and found nothing incriminating. He further claimed agents seized his iPhone 15, demanded its password under threat of bodily harm, and that the device contained no material linking him to any drug-related offence.
KayCee Luxury also accused the agency of photographing and filming him in custody and circulating those images publicly, which he argued violated his rights to dignity and privacy before any trial or conviction. He disclosed that he requires urgent medical attention for acute asthma and said his detention facility cannot adequately provide that care.
Relief Sought and Court's Decision
KayCee Luxury is asking the court to declare his continued detention unconstitutional, release him immediately or admit him to bail on liberal terms, and return items he says were seized from him. These include €8,000, £3,000, a Patek Philippe Nautilus wristwatch, an Audemars Piguet wristwatch with three bangles, a Hermès Birkin travel bag, a Louis Vuitton travel box, a Lexus RX350 and a 2024 Toyota Hilux.
He is also seeking N100 million in damages over the circulation of his images, N50 million for alleged unlawful arrest and detention, and N40 million for the alleged invasion of his home and phone.
Presiding judge Friday Ogazi gave the NDLEA five days to respond after being served and ordered the agency to produce the socialite in court at the next hearing. The matter was adjourned to September 9.
