The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has arraigned luxury goods dealer and lifestyle influencer, Afolabi Kazeem Michael, popularly known as KC Luxury, alongside two alleged accomplices, over the attempted export of 184.5 kilogrammes of cocaine valued at about ₦39 billion to the United Kingdom.
The three defendants were arraigned on Friday before the Federal High Court in Lagos on a 22-count charge bordering on cocaine trafficking, illegal export of narcotics and money laundering.
They are accused of conspiring to ship the cocaine through a Lagos-based courier logistics company to London in five separate consignments between July 28 and August 1, 2026.
KC Luxury, Boniface Freeman Ochoche Sule and Ikechukwu Ekugo Patriarch pleaded not guilty to all the charges when they were read to them.
NDLEA spokesman, Femi Babafemi, disclosed the development in a statement, detailing the allegations against the defendants and the financial transactions linked to the case.
NDLEA details alleged cocaine export plot
According to the charge sheet marked FHC/LAG/CR/755/2026, the defendants allegedly conspired with Atandare Oladipupo Oluwarotimi and Latifat Yusuf, who have already been arrested in London in connection with the case.
Count one accuses the defendants of conspiring to export 184.5 kilogrammes of cocaine concealed in five consignments bearing Airway Bill Numbers 2079998314, 8224082370, 2079973571, 7181131742 and 2211893902.
The consignments were allegedly shipped under the name Yemi Ejide.
The charge further alleges that Boniface procured Ikechukwu to facilitate the illegal export, while Afolabi allegedly enlisted a staff member of BOT Express Logistics on Lagos Island to process the shipments.
Afolabi was also accused of unlawfully possessing the cocaine before its intended export.
The NDLEA alleged that he paid ₦13.2 million from a Mallamawa Ventures account domiciled with Zenith Bank to BOT Express Logistics as consideration for handling the shipment.
The conspiracy charge is brought under Section 14(b) of the NDLEA Act, Cap. N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
KC Luxury faces multi-billion-naira money laundering allegations
Beyond the alleged cocaine trafficking, 16 counts accuse Afolabi of laundering several billions of naira through multiple companies and personal bank accounts.
According to the charge sheet, the companies allegedly used in the transactions include Mallamawa Ventures, Fateey Man Multi-Purpose Nig. Ltd, Patonifa Ltd, Ade-Lak Resources, Holmestas Global Services Limited and La Capital Enterprises, among others.
The NDLEA alleged that funds derived from the illicit trade were channelled through these entities and used, among other things, to acquire motor vehicles and landed properties.
The transactions were allegedly designed to conceal the source and ownership of the proceeds of the illegal drug business.
The money laundering allegations are brought under the Money Laundering (Prevention and Prohibition) Act, 2022.
Babafemi also said Afolabi was accused of failing to declare his assets to the agency as required by law.
Court adjourns ruling on bail application
Following the defendants’ not-guilty pleas, their bail application was argued before the court.
NDLEA prosecutor, Abu Ibrahim, opposed the application and urged the court to remand the defendants in a correctional facility pending trial, citing the gravity of the alleged offences.
The court subsequently ordered their remand at the NDLEA facility and adjourned the matter until October 4, 2026, for a ruling on the bail application.
How NDLEA arrested KC Luxury
Afolabi, who also goes by the names KayCee Luxury, KayCee Lux, KC, Mr Luxury and Yemi Ejide, was arrested by NDLEA operatives on the night of August 13, 2026.
He was reportedly attempting to leave Nigeria on a business-class flight to Paris through the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos when operatives apprehended him.
His arrest followed the interception of the 184.5-kilogramme cocaine shipment, which the agency estimated to be worth approximately ₦39 billion.
A subsequent search of Afolabi and his Banana Island apartment reportedly led to the recovery of exotic vehicles, foreign currencies and jewellery suspected to be proceeds of the alleged illicit trade.
The prosecution is expected to proceed following the court’s ruling on the bail application.
The allegations against the defendants remain subject to proof before the court.
