By Omoyeni Ojeifo
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Friday arraigned the trio of Afolabi Kazeem Michael, popularly known as KC Luxury, Boniface Freeman Ochoche Sule and Ikechukwu Ekugo Patriarch over the alleged trafficking of 184.5 kg of cocaine to the United Kingdom.
The three defendants were arraigned before Justice Musa Kakaki of the Federal High Court, Lagos, on a 22-count charge bordering on cocaine trafficking, illegal export of narcotics and money laundering.
They pleaded not guilty to all the counts.
The defendants were accused of conspiring between July 28 and August 1, 2026, to export the cocaine concealed in five consignments through a Lagos-based courier logistics firm to London.
Details of the arraignment were contained in an email to PerSecondNews by Femi Babafemi, Director, Media and Advocacy, NDLEA, on Friday.
According to the charge sheet, Count one of the charge sheet, marked FHC/LAG/CR/755/2026, accused the trio of conspiring with Atandare Oladipupo Oluwarotimi and Latifat Yusuf, who have been arrested in London in connection with the same case.
The prosecution alleged that the consignments, bearing Airway Bill Numbers 2079998314, 8224082370, 2079973571, 7181131742 and 2211893902, were shipped under the name Yemi Ejide.
Other counts detail how Boniface allegedly procured Ikechukwu to facilitate the export, while Afolabi was accused of procuring a staff member of BOT Express Logistics on Lagos Island to process the illicit consignments.
Afolabi was also accused of unlawfully possessing the cocaine ahead of its export, while the charge sheet linked him to a ₦13.2 million payment from a Mallamawa Ventures Zenith Bank account to BOT Express Logistics.
The payment was allegedly made as consideration for the shipment, according to the charge sheet.
About 16 of the counts border on money laundering, contrary to the Money Laundering (Prevention & Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Afolabi was alleged of funnelling several billions of naira through companies and personal accounts, including Mallamawa Ventures, Fateey Man Multi-Purpose Nig. Ltd, Patonifa Ltd, Ade-Lak Resources, Holmestas Global Services Limited and La Capital Enterprises.
The agency alleged that the funds were used, among other things, to acquire motor vehicles and various landed properties in a bid to conceal the true origin of proceeds from the illicit trade.
Afolabi was also accused of failing to declare his assets to the Agency as required by law.
After the defendants entered their not-guilty pleas and their bail application was argued, NDLEA prosecutor Abu Ibrahim opposed the application.
Ibrahim urged the court to remand the defendants in a correctional facility pending trial, citing the gravity of the offences.
Justice Kakaki thereafter ordered that the defendants be remanded in the Agency’s facility and adjourned the matter until October 4, 2026, for ruling on the bail application.
PerSecondNews recalls that Afolabi, also known as KayCee Luxury, KayCee Lux, KC, Mr. Luxury and Yemi Ejide, was arrested by NDLEA operatives on the night of August 13, 2026.
The suspect was arrested while allegedly attempting to flee Nigeria on a business-class flight to Paris from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, following the interception of the 184.5kg cocaine consignment.
The agency revealed that the consignment was estimated to be worth about ₦39 billion.
A subsequent search of Afolabi and his Banana Island apartment led to the recovery of exotic vehicles, foreign currency and jewellery believed to be proceeds of the illicit trade.
Count one of the charge alleges that Afolabi, Boniface and Ikechukwu, all adults, conspired between July 28 and August 1, 2026, with Atandare Oladipupo Oluwarotimi and Latifat Yusuf, both arrested in London, to export 184.5 kg of cocaine.
The charge further alleges that the defendants used the five consignments shipped under the name Yemi Ejide to export the narcotic and thereby committed an offence punishable under Section 14(b) of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency Act, Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
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