The Federal High Court in Lagos has refused to grant businessman and social media influencer, Afolabi Kazeem Michael, popularly known as KC Luxury, bail on medical grounds following his ongoing trial over alleged cocaine trafficking and money laundering.
Justice Musa Kakaki, who delivered the ruling on Wednesday,
held that the defense failed to provide sufficient medical evidence to justify
the defendant’s release.
The judge said the application did not establish special
circumstances warranting bail, adding that no medical certificate had been
presented to support the request.
“There is no medical certificate to warrant the court to
grant him bail,” the judge ruled.
Justice Kakaki, however, directed the Ikoyi Custodial Centre
to grant Kazeem unrestricted access to doctors and medical specialists for any
treatment required.
The court also ordered an accelerated hearing of the case
and adjourned proceedings until November 2, for the commencement of trial.
At the previous hearing on October 23, Kazeem was brought to
the court premises in an ambulance while receiving oxygen.
His lawyer, Emefo Etudo, had urged the court to grant him
bail to enable him to obtain specialized medical treatment at the Lagos
University Teaching Hospital.
The defense counsel claimed that his client’s health had
deteriorated following a lung collapse and argued that he required specialised
medical attention.
However, prosecuting counsel, Abu Ibrahim, opposed the
application, arguing that the medical evidence presented was insufficient to
justify the defendant’s release.
The prosecutor also contended that the defense had failed to
provide medical documentation showing that the Lagos University Teaching
Hospital could not adequately manage Kazeem’s condition.
In his ruling, Justice Kakaki said the defense had not
demonstrated any change in circumstances to justify the fresh bail application.
The judge also questioned the argument that Kazeem needed
treatment at the teaching hospital, noting that the same facility was being
proposed for his specialised care.
Kazeem is standing trial alongside Boniface Freeman Ochoche
Sule and Ikechukwu Ekugo Patriarch on a 22-count charge filed by the National
Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA.
The defendants are accused of conspiring to export 184.5
kilograms of cocaine to the United Kingdom and engaging in money laundering.
The NDLEA alleged that the cocaine was concealed in five
consignments sent through a Lagos-based logistics company.
The defendants have pleaded not guilty to the charges.
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