KC Luxury's 30-Day Detention for Cocaine Trafficking Upheld

On September 18, the Federal High Court in Lagos upheld the 30-day detention of Kazeem Michael Afolabi, popularly known as KC Luxury, in connection with the trafficking of 184.5 kilograms of cocaine. Justice Akintayo Aluko dismissed Afolabi's application that challenged the detention order, stating that the provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act (ACJA) cited by his counsel did not apply.

The court had initially authorized the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to detain Afolabi for 30 days on August 20 while investigations continued. Afolabi's lawyer, Abdulakeem Labi-Lawal, argued that his client had not been formally charged and that the court lacked jurisdiction to extend his detention.

The NDLEA opposed this, clarifying that the order was for investigation purposes. Afolabi was arrested on August 13 at Murtala Muhammed International Airport while allegedly preparing to travel to Paris.

The NDLEA had seized the cocaine on August 3, valued at approximately ₦39 billion, and linked Afolabi to an international drug-trafficking network.