A Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi has discharged popular nightlife entrepreneur Pretty Mike and club supervisor Joachim Hillary of drug-related charges, ruling that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against them.
Delivering judgment on Wednesday, Justice Ambrose Lewis-Alagoa upheld a no-case submission filed by the defence, effectively bringing the trial to an end at the preliminary stage.
The duo had been arraigned by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency on allegations of conspiracy, unlawful possession of hard drugs, and permitting illicit drug activities at Proxy Lagos nightclub located in Victoria Island.
According to the agency, a raid conducted on October 26 led to the recovery of 169 cylinders of nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, weighing 384.662 kilograms, alongside 200 grams of cannabis.
The NDLEA had alleged that the substances were intended for an illegal drug party and also sought the forfeiture of the nightclub, describing it as an instrument of crime.
However, lead defence counsel, Chikaosolu Ojukwu (SAN), argued that the prosecution failed to present credible or admissible evidence linking his clients to the alleged offences. He maintained that the claims were based on weak and inconsistent evidence that did not meet the legal threshold required to sustain a criminal charge.
Ojukwu further submitted that the prosecution did not establish ownership, control, or knowledge of the substances by the defendants.
In his ruling, Justice Lewis-Alagoa agreed with the defence, holding that the evidence presented fell short of the minimum standard required by law. He consequently upheld the no-case submission and discharged both defendants without calling on them to open their defence.