(KC Luxury. Photo by Premuim Times)
A court in Lagos has ordered drug police to bring a businessman and social media personality to court.
Kazeem Michael Afolabi, known as KC Luxury, was arrested in August over alleged c0caine offences and has been held since then.
A judge told the drug agency to respond within five days to Afolabi’s legal challenge against his continued detention.
He is asking to be released or given bail.
The case will return to court on September 9.
Afolabi was arrested at the airport while preparing to travel to Paris.
Police say they seized 184 kilograms of c0caine from a shipment, which they described as their biggest c0caine interception ever through a courier system.
Police officials said Afolabi is the alleged head of a trafficking network moving drugs from South America through Nigeria to the UK, Europe and Asia.
During his arrest, police recovered cash including euros, pounds and naira, expensive jewelry and luxury items from him.
They also searched his apartment on Banana Island in Lagos and found exotic vehicles and other expensive goods.
Afolabi is a businessman who works with gold, jewelry and luxury goods.
Police say he used this business profile to hide his alleged role in drug trafficking.
Through his lawyer, Afolabi says he has been held without being told what crime he committed or being brought before a court.
He says police searched his home without a warrant and took his phone, threatening him when he refused to give the password.
He is asking the court to declare his detention unlawful and to release him or grant him bail.
He also wants the court to order police to return property taken from him including cash, watches, bags and vehicles.
He says this property was not obtained from drug money.
Afolabi also filed a claim for damages saying police took and shared photographs and videos of him while in custody, portraying him as a criminal before trial.
He is asking for money for this and for his unlawful arrest and detention.
He told the court he has asthma and needs medical treatment that the detention facility cannot provide.
He said he has a permanent home in Lagos and offered to give up his passport and follow any bail conditions.
The drug agency says its investigation uncovered an international trafficking network that moved c0caine from South America through Nigeria to other countries.
They say they also arrested a logistics worker accused of helping move shipments.
They say some suspects linked to the network have been arrested abroad.
Afolabi has not been charged with any crime yet.
The court will now decide whether his continued detention is lawful and whether he should be released or granted bail.
