Businessman and social media personality Afolabi Michael Kazeem, popularly known as KC Luxury, appeared at the Federal High Court in Lagos on Friday in an ambulance while receiving oxygen, as his lawyer renewed a request for bail to enable him to obtain specialised medical treatment.
The development occurred during proceedings before Justice Musa Kakaki, where a nurse and a correctional officer gave information about the defendant’s medical condition.
A nurse from the Police Hospital, Falomo, Lagos, Bukki Yahya, told the court that Kazeem could not be moved from the ambulance into the courtroom because he was receiving oxygen.
She said he had been admitted to the hospital on October 7, 2026, and diagnosed with asthma and sepsis.
Defence Raises Concerns Over Defendant’s Health
Kazeem’s lawyer, Emefo Etudo, argued that his client’s condition had deteriorated and that his continued detention was affecting his access to appropriate treatment.
According to the defence, the Police Hospital had transferred Kazeem to the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) because it lacked the facilities required to manage his condition surgically. Counsel further alleged that Kazeem was subsequently withdrawn from LUTH and taken to a correctional centre despite his medical condition.
Etudo said Kazeem’s condition worsened during the transfer, necessitating his return to the Police Hospital, where he was admitted to the intensive care unit.
The lawyer urged the court to grant bail on medical grounds, arguing that the evidence presented about his client’s condition justified his release for specialised treatment.
Following the nurse’s account, Justice Kakaki directed that Kazeem be returned to the hospital rather than moved into the courtroom.
NDLEA Opposes Bail Application
Counsel for the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Abu Ibrahim, opposed the bail application.
The prosecution argued that the defence was attempting to reopen issues already considered by the court in an earlier ruling delivered on October 2. It also contended that the medical evidence presented did not sufficiently justify granting bail.
The prosecution maintained that the defence had not demonstrated that the relevant medical facilities were unable to manage Kazeem’s condition. It further described him as a flight risk and urged the court to impose stringent conditions if bail were granted.
In response, Etudo maintained that the defendant’s medical condition supported the application. He assured the court that Kazeem would attend future proceedings if released and noted that his international passport was already in the custody of the authorities.
Trial Involves Alleged Cocaine Trafficking and Money Laundering
Kazeem is standing trial alongside Boniface Freeman Ochoche Sule and Ikechukwu Ekugo Patriarch over allegations involving the trafficking of 184.5 kilograms of cocaine and money laundering.
The allegations remain subject to judicial determination and should not be treated as established guilt.
After hearing arguments from both sides, Justice Kakaki adjourned the ruling on the bail application until October 28, 2026.
The proceedings raise questions about the balance between ensuring that criminal trials proceed and protecting the health and welfare of defendants in custody. The court will have to determine the application on the evidence and applicable legal principles.
Until the ruling is delivered, the request for medical bail remains pending.
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