NEWS
’KC Luxury’ Takes NDLEA to Court, Demands Immediate Release and ₦190 Million in Damages
Social media influencer and businessman Afolabi Kazeem Michael, popularly known as KC Luxury, has taken legal action against the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), challenging his continued detention and demanding his immediate release or admission to bail.
The businessman is also seeking N₦190 million in damages from the anti-narcotics agency over what he described in his suit as unlawful arrest and detention, invasion of privacy, and the alleged circulation of his photographs and videos while in custody.
KC Luxury was arrested by NDLEA operatives on August 13, 2026, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos while preparing to travel to Paris.
His arrest followed an investigation into the interception of 184.50 kilogrammes of cocaine, which the agency said was believed to be connected to an international drug trafficking cartel allegedly using Nigeria as a transit route to the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia.
The NDLEA also said its investigation resulted in the seizure of foreign currencies and luxury items, as well as searches linked to the suspect.
However, in a fundamental rights enforcement suit filed before the Federal High Court in Lagos on Thursday, KC Luxury, through his lawyer, Abdulakeem Labi-Lawal, SAN, challenged the legality of his continued detention.
The applicant is asking the court to declare his detention without being charged unconstitutional and a violation of his fundamental right to personal liberty.
After considering the application, Justice Friday Ogazi declined to grant the request made on an ex parte basis. Instead, the judge directed that the NDLEA be formally put on notice to enable the agency respond to the allegations contained in the suit.
Justice Ogazi further ordered the NDLEA to produce Afolabi in court at the next hearing. The court directed that the ex parte motion, enrolled order and other accompanying documents be served on the agency within four working days, while the NDLEA was given five days from the date of service to file its response.
The matter was subsequently adjourned until September 9, 2026, for the hearing of the substantive application.
In an affidavit filed in support of the suit and sworn to by his father, Eric Afolabi, the applicant alleged that KC Luxury had spent 14 days in NDLEA custody without being informed of the specific offence for which he was being held or formally charged before a court.
He is therefore asking the court to order the NDLEA to release him immediately or admit him to bail on favourable terms pending the filing of any criminal charge against him.
The businessman also raised concerns over the manner in which his residence was searched following his arrest.
According to the claims contained in the suit, NDLEA operatives searched his residence at Movamo Court, Banana Island, Lagos, allegedly without presenting a search warrant.
The applicant claimed that the operatives conducted a search of the entire property but failed to discover anything incriminating.
The legal battle now places the circumstances surrounding KC Luxury’s arrest and continued detention before the court, with the NDLEA expected to formally respond to the allegations at the next stage of the proceedings.