The Federal High Court in Lagos has adjourned further proceedings in the case involving detained businessman and social media influencer, Afolabi Kazeem Michael, popularly known as KC Luxury.
Justice Friday Ogazi fixed September 21, 2026, for the hearing of pending applications in the matter.
The adjournment followed arguments by lawyers representing Kazeem and the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, that the court should await a ruling from a sister court on an application challenging jurisdiction.
Kazeem’s counsel, Abdulakeem Labi-Lawal, SAN, told the court that the NDLEA had obtained an order permitting it to keep his client in custody for 30 days for further investigation.
However, he argued that the order did not expressly require Kazeem to remain detained throughout the entire 30-day period.
Labi-Lawal further submitted that the NDLEA could release his client on bail if it was satisfied with the progress of its investigation.
The lawyer said Kazeem had also challenged the jurisdiction of the Federal High Court to issue the detention order.
He informed the court that the jurisdictional application had already been argued, with parties awaiting the court’s ruling.
Labi-Lawal also noted that the respondents had served their counter-affidavit on the defence team. He said the applicant had five days to respond to the processes.
Counsel to the NDLEA, Abu Ibrahim, did not oppose the request for an adjournment.
He, however, clarified that the 30-day remand order was obtained in August, before Kazeem approached the court seeking an order for his production. Justice Ogazi subsequently adjourned the matter until September 21 for further proceedings.
Kazeem, through his legal team, is challenging the legality of an August 20, 2026, ex-parte order authorising his detention for an initial period of 30 days.
The detention was sought to facilitate further investigation into allegations of drug trafficking. In Suit No. FHC/LAG/MISC/1199/2026, the defence is asking the court to set aside or discharge the order.
The lawyers argued that no criminal charge had been filed against Kazeem.
They further maintained that the Federal High Court’s jurisdiction to try offences under the NDLEA Act is separate from its authority to issue a pre-charge remand order.
“The jurisdiction to try a person charged with an offence under the NDLEA Act is fundamentally different from the jurisdiction to remand a suspect who has not yet been charged,” the lawyers submitted.
Kazeem’s lawyers have also challenged the duration of his detention.
They argued that the 30-day remand order conflicts with provisions of the Administration of Criminal Justice Act, 2015.
According to the defence, investigators seeking additional time to keep a suspect in custody should be subject to further judicial scrutiny.
They also asked the court to abridge the time for hearing their application and bring forward the September 17 date earlier fixed for reviewing the detention order.
The lawyers argued that continued detention could amount to an ongoing infringement of Kazeem’s constitutional right to personal liberty and potentially render his challenge ineffective.
