The Federal High Court in Lagos has dismissed an application filed by Afolabi Michael Kazeem, popularly known as KC Luxury, seeking to set aside an order extending his detention for 30 days over his alleged involvement in the trafficking of 184.5 kilograms of cocaine.

Justice Aluko, in a ruling delivered on Thursday, held that the order extending Kazeem’s detention, granted on August 20, 2026, was properly made and supported by the Constitution and relevant drug-control legislation.

Kazeem, through his counsel, Abdulakeem Labi-Lawal, SAN, had asked the court to set aside or strike out the detention order on the ground that the Federal High Court lacked jurisdiction to make it.

The senior lawyer argued that only a Magistrate Court could issue a remand order under Sections 293 to 299 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015, contending that the continued detention of his client amounted to an unlawful interference with his constitutional right to personal liberty.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, however, opposed the application through its counsel, Abu Ibrahim, who maintained that the argument misconceived the nature of the order earlier granted by the court.

Ibrahim argued that the August 20 order was not a remand order contemplated under Sections 293 to 299 of the ACJA, but an extension of detention granted to enable the agency to conduct detailed investigations into the alleged drug-trafficking offence.

According to the facts presented before the court, Kazeem was arrested on August 13, 2026, at the departure hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, while allegedly attempting to travel to Paris, France.

The NDLEA told the court that his arrest followed the seizure of 184.5kg of cocaine at DHL in Ikeja, Lagos, and alleged that Kazeem was connected to the shipment.

In dismissing the application, Justice Aluko held that Sections 293 to 299 of the ACJA, which regulate remand proceedings, were not applicable to the circumstances of the case.

The court further held that the Federal High Court has exclusive jurisdiction over drug-related matters by virtue of Section 251(1)(m) of the Constitution and Section 26(1) of the NDLEA Act.

Justice Aluko also found that the material placed before the court by the NDLEA disclosed reasonable suspicion of a drug-related offence sufficient to justify a temporary deprivation of liberty within the contemplation of Section 35 of the Constitution.

The judge consequently dismissed Kazeem’s application, holding that it amounted to an abuse of court process and lacked merit.

The ruling leaves intact the August 20 order permitting the NDLEA to continue holding Kazeem for the period authorised by the court while its investigation into the alleged 184.5kg cocaine shipment proceeds.

The allegations against Kazeem have not been determined at trial, and the ruling concerned the legality of the detention extension rather than his guilt or innocence.

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