The Federal High Court in Lagos has granted an interim forfeiture order on a Victoria Island property, known as Proxy Lagos Night Club, following an application by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA). The agency alleges the property, located at No. 7 Akin Adesola Street, was used for the storage and distribution of controlled substances.
The court, presided over by Justice Musa Kakaki, granted the order in response to an ex parte application filed and argued by NDLEA counsel, Mr. Buhari Abdulahi. The forfeiture is effective immediately, and the court has ordered a suspension of all business operations at the night club pending the conclusion of the ongoing investigation.
The NDLEA’s application identified the night club as an “instrumentality of drug dealing and abuse” by its owners, Mike Nwalie and Joachim Hillary.
The raid by NDLEA operatives led to the recovery of 169 cylinders (384.662 kilograms) of Nitrous Oxide (commonly known as Laughing Gas) and 200 grams of Cannabis Sativa. Both substances are classified as controlled drugs under Nigerian law.
The agency’s investigation began after receiving credible intelligence in October 2025 regarding preparations for a large-scale illegal drug party scheduled at the club.
A team from the Lagos Strategic Command carried out a midnight raid on the club, resulting in the arrest of over 200 persons, including the two respondents, club owner Nwalie and staff member/alleged dealer Hillary.
The agency argued that existing drug control laws subject any property used as an instrumentality of drug crime to forfeiture, making the order necessary to preserve the property under NDLEA custody during the continuing investigation.
In an affidavit supporting the motion, Deputy Commander of Narcotics, Nasiru Garba Bungudu, confirmed that laboratory analysis verified the seized items as controlled drugs. The affidavit further alleges that the second respondent (Hillary) has long been involved in the sale and distribution of these substances within the club, reportedly with the knowledge and consent of the owner (Nwalie).
Having reviewed the application and accompanying evidence, Justice Kakaki granted the interim forfeiture order. The matter has been adjourned to January 28, 2026, for further proceedings.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) is a Federal agency in Nigeria charged with eliminating the growing, processing, manufacturing, selling, exporting, and trafficking of hard drugs.
