A Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, to produce socialite Afolabi Kazeem Micheal, popularly known as KC Luxury, before the court over his continued detention.

Micheal was arrested by NDLEA operatives on Aug. 13 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Lagos, while preparing to travel to Paris. He has remained in the agency’s custody for 14 days without being formally charged or arraigned.

His lawyer, A. Labi-Lawal, SAN, subsequently approached the court under the Fundamental Rights (Enforcement Procedure) Rules 2009, challenging the legality of his continued detention.

Justice Friday Ogazi directed the NDLEA to respond to the application within five days of being served with the court processes and to produce Micheal at the next hearing. The matter was adjourned until Sept. 9 for hearing of the substantive application.

The application followed the NDLEA’s earlier announcement that Micheal was arrested in connection with the seizure of 184.5kg of cocaine from a courier company in Lagos.

The agency had described him as an alleged Nigerian coordinator of an international cocaine trafficking network and said the investigation indicated that the syndicate used Nigeria as a transit point for drugs destined for the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia.

Micheal, however, is challenging the circumstances of his arrest and detention.

In the court application, his father, Eric Afolabi, alleged that his son had not been informed of the specific offence for which he was being detained and had not been brought before a competent court.

He also alleged that NDLEA operatives searched his residence in Banana Island without presenting a search warrant and seized personal belongings, including an iPhone 15 and luxury items.

The applicant is seeking declarations that his continued detention is unconstitutional, alongside orders for his release or admission to bail pending any formal charge. He is also seeking damages over alleged unlawful detention and invasion of privacy.

The court's order does not determine the allegations against Micheal or establish his guilt or innocence. Rather, it brings his continued detention under judicial scrutiny and requires the NDLEA to respond to the legal challenge.

The agency is expected to produce him before the court as directed, while the substantive application will be heard on Sept. 9.