The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the interim preservation of properties, luxury vehicles and bank funds linked to businessman and social media influencer Afolabi Kazeem, popularly known as KC Luxury, over alleged cocaine trafficking and money laundering.
Justice Musa Kakaki issued the order on September 25 following an ex-parte application by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on behalf of the Federal Government.
The order covers five landed properties, three vehicles and funds in four bank accounts allegedly linked to Kazeem and his associates.
Among the assets listed are Next Level Hotel & Suites in Egbeda, Lagos; a grey Toyota Lexus RX 350; a black 2025 Toyota Hilux; and a white 2025 Tesla Cybertruck, all described as unregistered.
The court also ordered the preservation of N1.09 million in an FCMB account belonging to Rabiu Kabiru Lawal and N59.26 million in a Zenith Bank account belonging to Mallamawa Ventures. Funds in an FCMB corporate account belonging to Next Level Records & Logistics Solution Limited and a First Bank account linked to Boniface Freeman Ochoche Sule were also covered by the order.
The NDLEA told the court that the assets were reasonably believed to be proceeds of unlawful activities, particularly drug trafficking and dealing.
The agency alleged that Kazeem, Sule and Ikechukwu Patriarch conspired with Atandare Oladipupo Oluwarotimi and Latifat Yusuf, who were arrested in London, to export 184.5kg of cocaine concealed in five consignments to the United Kingdom.
According to the NDLEA, Kazeem allegedly paid N13.2 million from a Mallamawa Ventures account to BOT Express Logistics for the shipment.
The agency further alleged that Kazeem moved billions of naira through several companies and personal accounts and used part of the funds to acquire vehicles and landed properties in an attempt to conceal proceeds allegedly generated from the illicit trade.
Kazeem was also accused of failing to declare his assets to the NDLEA as required by law.
The agency said he was arrested on August 13 while allegedly attempting to travel to Paris on a business-class flight from the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos.
His arrest followed the interception of the cocaine consignment, which the NDLEA estimated to be worth about N39 billion.
The agency also alleged that a search of his Banana Island residence led to the recovery of exotic vehicles, foreign currency and jewellery.
Kazeem, Sule and Patriarch are facing a 22-count charge bordering on conspiracy, cocaine trafficking and money laundering. They pleaded not guilty.
Their lawyers, including Abdulakeem Labi-Lawal, SAN, Uche Okoronkwo and Chief Benson Ndakara, applied for bail, but the NDLEA opposed the applications.
Justice Kakaki subsequently dismissed the bail applications, citing the gravity of the alleged offences, the prescribed punishment and the possibility of the defendants jumping bail.
The judge described hard-drug trafficking as a menace to society and noted that the case involved a large quantity of cocaine allegedly destined for an international market.
He ordered an accelerated hearing and fixed November 2, 3, 4 and 5 for trial.
The preservation matter was adjourned until October 14 for a report on compliance.
The September 25 order is an interim preservation measure and does not amount to a final forfeiture of the assets or a determination that they are proceeds of crime.