KC Luxury arrives court in ambulance, seeks bail for treatment

Kazeem Michael Afolabi, popularly known as KC Luxury

Socialite Kazeem Afolabi, popularly known as KC Luxury, was brought to the Federal High Court in Lagos in an ambulance on Friday as his lawyer made another attempt at his release on bail on medical grounds.

Mr Afolabi was said to be receiving oxygen and remained in the ambulance while proceedings were held inside the courtroom, The Cable reported.

A nurse at the Police Hospital, Falomo, Lagos, Bukki Yahya, told the court that Mr Afolabi was admitted on 7 October and diagnosed with asthma and sepsis.

An officer of the Nigerian Correctional Service had earlier told the court that the defendant was critically ill and had been hospitalised.

Mr Afolabi’s lawyer, Emefo Etudo, questioned why his client had been brought to court in that condition.

The trial judge, Musa Kakaki, ordered that he be returned to the hospital.

Mr Etudo subsequently argued an application dated 16 October, asking the court to release his client so he could receive further treatment at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).

The lawyer said Mr Afolabi’s condition had deteriorated and alleged that he had suffered a collapsed lung.

He told the court that the Police Hospital referred his client to LUTH because it lacked the facilities to treat him.

However, Mr Etudo alleged that Mr Afolabi was taken from LUTH to a correctional centre on 13 October despite his condition.

Opposing the application, prosecution lawyer Abu Ibrahim said the court had already considered the defendant’s health when it ruled on an earlier bail application.

Mr Ibrahim said asthma remained Mr Afolabi’s underlying ailment, although his condition might have become more severe. He also described him as a flight risk and urged the court to impose stringent conditions if bail was granted.

Mr Etudo asked the judge to grant bail on liberal terms, assuring the court that his client would attend subsequent proceedings. He added that Mr Afolabi’s international passport was in the custody of the authorities.

Mr Kakaki adjourned ruling on the application until 28 October.

Mr Afolabi is standing trial alongside Boniface Freeman Ochoche Sule and Ikechukwu Ekugo Patriarch on a 22-count bordering on the alleged trafficking of 184.5 kilogrammes of cocaine to the United Kingdom and money laundering.

All three defendants have pleaded not guilty.

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arraigned them on 25 September after intercepting 184.5 kilogrammes of cocaine at a DHL facility within the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company premises in Ikeja, Lagos, on 3 August.

The agency valued the cocaine at about N39 billion and described the seizure as its largest interception through a courier company in Nigeria.

According to the NDLEA, the cocaine was concealed in five consignments bound for London, with Yemi Ejide listed as the shipper.

The agency alleged that the defendants worked with Atandare Oladipupo Oluwarotimi and Latifat Yusuf, who were arrested in London in connection with the investigation.

The agency said Mr Afolabi was arrested on 13 August at the departure hall of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos while preparing to travel to Paris.

It also accused him of moving billions of naira through company and personal bank accounts and using some of the funds to acquire vehicles and properties linked to the alleged drug trade.

On 2 October, the court rejected the defendants’ earlier bail applications, citing the seriousness of the charges, the possible penalties and the risk that they might abscond.

The judge also referred to the prevalence and consequences of drug trafficking.

The allegations have yet to be proved in court.