Court Discharges Pretty Mike of Drug Charges Due to Evidence

On Wednesday, a Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, discharged nightclub owner Mike Nwali, popularly known as Pretty Mike, and his club supervisor, Joachim Hillari, from drug-related charges. The court, presided over by Justice Ambrose Lewis Alagoa, upheld a no-case submission, concluding that the evidence presented by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) did not establish a prima facie case requiring the defendants to open their defense.

The charges stemmed from an NDLEA raid on the nightclub on October 26, where 169 cylinders of nitrous oxide and 200 grams of cannabis sativa were allegedly recovered. The prosecution claimed these substances were intended for illegal drug parties.

However, defense counsel Chikaosolu Ojukwu argued that the prosecution failed to provide credible evidence linking the defendants to the alleged offenses, maintaining that the evidence was weak and legally insufficient. The court agreed, stating that the allegations were based on mere suspicion without compelling evidence, leading to the discharge of the defendants.