Socialite Kazeem Afolabi, popularly referred to as KC Luxury, was delivered to the Federal High Court in Lagos in an ambulance on Friday as his lawyer made one other try at his launch on bail on medical grounds.
Mr Afolabi was mentioned to be receiving oxygen and remained in the ambulance whereas proceedings have been held contained in the courtroom, The Cable reported.
A nurse on the Police Hospital, Falomo, Lagos, Bukki Yahya, advised the court that Mr Afolabi was admitted on 7 October and identified with bronchial asthma and sepsis.
An officer of the Nigerian Correctional Service had earlier advised the court that the defendant was critically in poor health and had been hospitalised.
Mr Afolabi’s lawyer, Emefo Etudo, questioned why his shopper had been delivered to court in that situation.
The trial choose, Musa Kakaki, ordered that he be returned to the hospital.
Bail software
Mr Etudo subsequently argued an software dated 16 October, asking the court to launch his shopper so he may obtain additional treatment on the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).
The lawyer mentioned Mr Afolabi’s situation had deteriorated and alleged that he had suffered a collapsed lung.
He advised the court that the Police Hospital referred his shopper to LUTH as a result of it lacked the amenities to deal with him.
However, Mr Etudo alleged that Mr Afolabi was taken from LUTH to a correctional centre on 13 October regardless of his situation.
Opposing the appliance, prosecution lawyer Abu Ibrahim mentioned the court had already thought of the defendant’s well being when it dominated on an earlier bail software.
Mr Ibrahim mentioned bronchial asthma remained Mr Afolabi’s underlying ailment, though his situation might need change into extra extreme. He additionally described him as a flight danger and urged the court to impose stringent circumstances if bail was granted.
Mr Etudo requested the choose to grant bail on liberal phrases, assuring the court that his shopper would attend subsequent proceedings. He added that Mr Afolabi’s worldwide passport was in the custody of the authorities.
Mr Kakaki adjourned ruling on the appliance till 28 October.
Drug trafficking trial
Mr Afolabi is standing trial alongside Boniface Freeman Ochoche Sule and Ikechukwu Ekugo Patriarch on a 22-count bordering on the alleged trafficking of 184.5 kilogrammes of cocaine to the United Kingdom and cash laundering.
All three defendants have pleaded not responsible.
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) arraigned them on 25 September after intercepting 184.5 kilogrammes of cocaine at a DHL facility inside the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company premises in Ikeja, Lagos, on 3 August.
The company valued the cocaine at about N39 billion and described the seizure as its largest interception via a courier firm in Nigeria.
According to the NDLEA, the cocaine was hid in 5 consignments certain for London, with Yemi Ejide listed because the shipper.
The company alleged that the defendants labored with Atandare Oladipupo Oluwarotimi and Latifat Yusuf, who have been arrested in London in reference to the investigation.
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The company mentioned Mr Afolabi was arrested on 13 August on the departure corridor of the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos whereas getting ready to journey to Paris.
It additionally accused him of transferring billions of naira via firm and private financial institution accounts and utilizing among the funds to accumulate autos and properties linked to the alleged drug commerce.
On 2 October, the court rejected the defendants’ earlier bail purposes, citing the seriousness of the costs, the potential penalties and the danger that they may abscond.
The choose additionally referred to the prevalence and penalties of drug trafficking.
The allegations have but to be proved in court.
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