The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) on Thursday arraigned embattled Lagos socialite, Mike Nwalie, popularly known as Pretty Mike, before Justice Ambrose Alagoa of the Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos, over alleged drug-related offences.
Pretty Mike, the owner of Proxy Lagos Nightclub in Victoria Island, Lagos, was docked alongside the club’s Manager, Joachim Hillary, by the NDLEA on a three-count charge of conspiracy, illegal possession of hard drugs, and knowingly allowing the use of the club premises for illegal drug activities.
The anti-narcotic agency claimed that the defendants allegedly committed the offences on or around October 26, 2025, at the popular nightclub located at No. 7 Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.
According to the prosecutor, Buhari Abdullahi, the defendants conspired to organise a drug party at the club premises during which the anti-narcotic agents reportedly recovered a significant cache of illicit substances.
Abdullahi also told the court that the items allegedly recovered by the NDLEA included 200 grams of Cannabis Sativa, a narcotic drug, and 177 cylinders of Nitrous Oxide, commonly known as ‘laughing gas’.
He stated that the cylinders of Nitrous Oxide, described as harmful and frequently abused, weighed a total of 364.662 kilograms.
The prosecutor maintained that the alleged offences were in violation of Section 14(b) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
The second count, which has Hillary as the sole defendant, accused him of possessing 200 grams of Cannabis Sativa on or about October 25, 2025, at the same location without lawful authority.
This act, the prosecution claimed, contravened Section 20(1)(c) and punishable under Section 20(2)(b) of the same Act.
The third count was directed explicitly against Pretty Mike in his capacity as the proprietor, occupier, and person in charge of Proxy Lagos Nightclub.
The charge alleged that on or about October 26, 2025, he allowed the premises to be used for a drug party and drug dealing, contrary to and punishable under Section 12 of the NDLEA Act.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Following their pleas, Abdullahi requested a trial date.
However, the defence counsel, Dada Awosika (SAN), informed the court that he had filed bail applications on behalf of his clients.
Awosika pleaded with the court to grant bail to the defendants on the most liberal terms, insisting that they had no prior criminal records.
He also argued that the burden rests on the prosecution to demonstrate why bail should be denied.
In opposition to the application, Abdullahi contended that the defendants had not provided sufficient grounds to justify bail and urged the court to dismiss the application, instead calling for an expedited hearing.
In his ruling, Justice Lewis-Allagoa held that the prosecution bears the burden of providing valid reasons why bail should not be granted, emphasising that defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.
The judge further held that the purpose of bail is to ensure that defendants appear in court for trial.
He, therefore, granted the defendants bail in the sum of N50million with two responsible sureties in like sum.
The judge also directed that the sureties must provide an affidavit of means.
He then released the defendants to their counsel pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions.
The matter was subsequently adjourned to January 14, 2026, for the commencement of the trial.
