Justice Friday Ogazi of the Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to bring social media influencer and businessman Kazeem Afolabi, widely known as ‘KC Luxury’, before the court. This directive comes after Afolabi was allegedly held for 14 days without being formally charged.

The court's order on Thursday followed an ex parte application filed by Afolabi's lawyer, A. Labi-Lawal, SAN, using the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009. The judge also gave the NDLEA five days to explain why Afolabi should not be released or granted bail, challenging his continued detention.

Afolabi was reportedly arrested by NDLEA operatives on August 13, 2026, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos as he was preparing to travel to Paris. His father, Eric Afolabi, submitted an affidavit stating that his son has been in NDLEA custody since his arrest. He claimed Kazeem was not informed of the offence he was suspected of or presented before a court.

Justice Ogazi instructed that Afolabi’s lawyer must serve the NDLEA with the motion, the court's order, and other related documents within four working days. The agency is then required to submit its response within five days of receiving the papers. The court has set September 9, 2026, for the hearing where KC Luxury is expected to be produced.

In the main application, Afolabi is asking the court to declare his detention unconstitutional, arguing it violates his fundamental human rights as guaranteed by Nigeria's 1999 Constitution. He wants an immediate release or, alternatively, bail on favourable terms while the agency decides whether to file charges.

According to Afolabi’s allegations, NDLEA operatives arrested and detained him at the airport. His residence at Movamo Court, Banana Island, Lagos, was also searched by agency operatives. He claims they did not show him or his family a search warrant, and despite a thorough search, nothing incriminating was found.

A significant point of contention is the seizure of Afolabi’s iPhone 15. He alleges that operatives demanded the password, threatening him with physical harm if he refused to comply. Afolabi maintains that the phone contains private information belonging to him and his wife and that the search of the device revealed no narcotics, drug-related activities, or any evidence linking him to an offence.

Furthermore, Afolabi claims the NDLEA took and distributed photos and videos of him while he was in their custody. He argues this has portrayed him as a criminal, even without a conviction, violating his constitutional rights to dignity and privacy and causing him public embarrassment and humiliation. For this, he is seeking N100 million in damages.

He is also demanding N50 million for alleged unlawful arrest and detention, and N40 million for the alleged invasion of his home privacy and his telephone. Afolabi is also requesting the return of seized properties, which include foreign currency (€8,000, £3,000), luxury watches (Patek Philippe Nautilus, Audemars Piguet), designer handbags (Hermès, Hermès Birkin travel bag), a Louis Vuitton travel box, the iPhone 15, a Lexus RX350, and a 2024 Toyota Hilux. He insists these items were not purchased with proceeds from narcotics or any illegal activities.

Afolabi has also raised concerns about his health, stating he suffers from severe asthma requiring urgent medical attention. He claims the detention facility cannot provide adequate care for his condition. He asserts he has a permanent address in Lagos, strong family and business ties, and is willing to surrender his international passport and adhere to any bail conditions.

The NDLEA, as indicated in court documents, linked Afolabi’s arrest to an ongoing investigation involving the interception of 184.50kg of cocaine. The agency stated this seizure is connected to an international drug trafficking network that reportedly uses Nigeria as a transit point for cocaine shipments heading to the United Kingdom and Europe.