…alleging nightclub had been operating as a center for drug abuse and illicit trade
LAGOS, NIGERIA – The iNews Times | The Federal High Court in Lagos has issued an interim forfeiture order on a Victoria Island nightclub belonging to popular entertainer, Pretty Mike, over allegations that it was used for drug trafficking and storage.
Justice Musa Kakaki granted the order on Tuesday after hearing an ex parte application filed and presented by counsel to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Mr. Buhari Abdulahi.
The property, situated at No. 7 Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, and operating as Proxy Lagos NightClub, was allegedly used to store 169 cylinders (384.662 kilograms) of nitrous oxide, commonly referred to as laughing gas, along with 200 grams of cannabis sativa.
According to the NDLEA, the property is owned by Mike Nwalie and Joachim Hillary, who purportedly utilized the nightclub premises as a base for storing and distributing the illicit substances ahead of a planned drug-themed party.
While presenting the ex parte motion dated October 27, 2025, counsel to the NDLEA, Mr. Buhari Abdulahi, urged the court to grant an interim forfeiture order over the nightclub to the Federal Government of Nigeria, describing it as an instrumentality of crime under the NDLEA Act.
He further requested an order halting all operations at the nightclub pending the completion of the agency’s investigation into the alleged drug-related activities of Pretty Mike.
Abdulahi explained that obtaining an interim forfeiture order was a statutory measure necessary to preserve the property during ongoing investigations, emphasizing that the court’s decision would not prejudice any party involved.
In an affidavit sworn to by Deputy Commander of Narcotics, Nasiru Garba Bungudu, the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) stated that it received credible intelligence in October 2025 indicating plans for a large-scale drug party at Proxy Lagos Night Club.
Acting on the tip-off, operatives from the agency’s Lagos Strategic Command conducted a midnight raid on the premises on October 26, 2025. During the operation, officers reportedly recovered 169 cylinders of nitrous oxide and 200 grams of cannabis sativa.
According to the affidavit, more than 200 individuals, including the two respondents, were arrested during the raid. The document identified Nwalie as the owner of the nightclub, while Hillary was said to be an employee allegedly involved in drug distribution.
The NDLEA added that laboratory analyses carried out on the seized items confirmed them to be controlled substances. It further alleged that the nightclub had been operating as a center for drug abuse and illicit trade with the full knowledge and approval of its owner.
After considering the motion and supporting documents, Justice Musa Kakaki granted the interim forfeiture order and directed that all activities at the nightclub remain suspended pending the conclusion of the investigation.
The case was adjourned until January 28, 2026, for further hearing.
