The Federal High Court in Lagos has ordered the interim forfeiture of a property located at No. 7 Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos, allegedly used for the storage and distribution of illicit drugs.
Justice Musa Kakaki issued the order following an ex parte application filed and argued by Mr. Buhari Abdulahi, counsel to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency.
The property, identified as Proxy Lagos Night Club, was said to have been used by its owners, Mike Nwalie and Joachim Hillary, as a base for drug storage and distribution.
According to the NDLEA, the premises were used to store 169 cylinders (384.662 kilograms) of Nitrous Oxide (commonly known as Laughing Gas) and 200 grams of Cannabis Sativa, both classified as controlled substances under Nigerian law.
In a motion dated October 27, 2025, the NDLEA sought an interim order forfeiting the property to the Federal Government and suspending all business activities at the club pending the conclusion of investigations.
Arguing the motion, Mr. Abdulahi told the court that the night club was being used for storage, concealment, and sale of drugs, and that the seized substances were intended for an illegal drug party scheduled to take place at the venue. He added that under Nigeria’s drug control laws, any property used as an instrument for drug trafficking is liable to forfeiture. The order, he said, was necessary to place the property under NDLEA custody while investigations continue.
In an affidavit supporting the application, Deputy Commander of Narcotics, Nasiru Garba Bungudu, stated that the agency received credible intelligence in October 2025 about preparations for a large-scale drug party at Proxy Lagos Night Club.
According to the affidavit, NDLEA operatives conducted several days of surveillance and confirmed that the party was scheduled for October 26, 2025. Acting on the intelligence, a team from the Lagos Strategic Command carried out a midnight raid on the club, recovering the 169 cylinders of Nitrous Oxide and 200 grams of Cannabis Sativa from the premises.
The deponent further revealed that over 200 persons, including the two respondents, were arrested during the operation. The first respondent, Nwalie, was identified as the club owner, while Hillary was said to be a staff member involved in selling the illicit substances.
The NDLEA alleged that laboratory analysis confirmed the substances to be controlled drugs, and that the second respondent had been engaged in their sale and distribution with the full knowledge and consent of the owner.
Mr. Abdulahi urged the court to grant the application, arguing that no party would be prejudiced by the interim forfeiture order and that the move was necessary to preserve the property as evidence pending the conclusion of investigations.
After reviewing the motion and the accompanying documents, Justice Kakaki granted the interim forfeiture order as requested by the NDLEA.
The court adjourned the case to January 28, 2026, for further proceedings.
