NDLEA arraigns KC Luxury, two others over 184.5kg cocaine
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on Friday arraigned Afolabi Kazeem Michael, popularly known as KC Luxury, and two alleged accomplices before the Federal High Court in Lagos over the alleged trafficking and attempted export of 184.5 kilogrammes of cocaine to the United Kingdom.
The other defendants, Boniface Freeman Ochoche Sule and Ikechukwu Ekugo Patriarch, were arraigned before Justice Ayokunle Olayinka Faji on a 22-count charge bordering on cocaine trafficking, illegal export of narcotics and money laundering. They pleaded not guilty to all the counts when the charges were read to them.
According to the charge sheet, marked FHC/LAG/CR/755/2026, the defendants allegedly conspired between July 28 and Aug. 1, 2026, to export the cocaine concealed in five consignments through a Lagos-based courier logistics firm to London. The consignments reportedly bore Airway Bill numbers 2079998314, 8224082370, 2079973571, 7181131742 and 2211893902, with Yemi Ejide listed as the shipper.
The NDLEA further alleged that Sule procured Ekugo to facilitate the export, while Afolabi allegedly procured a staff member of BOT Express Logistics on Lagos Island to process the consignments. The agency also accused Afolabi of unlawfully possessing the cocaine ahead of its intended export and linked him to a N13.2 million payment from a Mallamawa Ventures Zenith Bank account to BOT Express Logistics for the shipment.
In addition, 16 counts relate to alleged money laundering by Afolabi under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022. The agency alleged that he funnelled several billions of naira through a network of companies and personal accounts, including Mallamawa Ventures, Fateey Man Multi-Purpose Nigeria Ltd., Patonifa Ltd., Ade-Lak Resources, Holmestas Global Services Ltd. and La Capital Enterprises.
The NDLEA alleged that the funds were used, among other purposes, to acquire motor vehicles and landed properties in an attempt to conceal the alleged proceeds of the illicit trade. Afolabi was also accused of failing to declare his assets to the agency as required by law.
Following the defendants’ not-guilty pleas, NDLEA prosecutor Abu Ibrahim opposed their bail applications and urged the court to remand them pending trial, citing the gravity of the alleged offences. Justice Faji subsequently ordered that the defendants be remanded in the agency’s facility and adjourned the case until Oct. 4, 2026, for ruling on the bail applications.
Afolabi, also known as KayCee Luxury, KayCee Lux, KC, Mr. Luxury and Yemi Ejide, was arrested by NDLEA operatives on August 13, 2026, while allegedly attempting to leave Nigeria on a business-class flight to Paris from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos. The agency said the arrest followed the interception of the 184.5-kilogramme cocaine consignment, estimated at about N39 billion, while a subsequent search of him and his Banana Island apartment led to the recovery of exotic vehicles, foreign currency and jewellery suspected to be proceeds of the alleged illicit trade.
