January 15, 2026 2:02 pm
The Federal High Court in Lagos has dismissed the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency’s bid to halt the unsealing of Proxy Night Club, Victoria Island, and ordered that contempt proceedings be served on the NDLEA Chairman by substituted means.
Justice Lewis-Allagoa, in a ruling delivered on Wednesday, refused the agency’s motion seeking to stay the execution of the court’s December 5, 2025, order directing that the nightclub be reopened pending appeal.
The court described the omission as a “crucial lapse” and said it was fatal to the application.
Lewis-Allagoa further found that the motion was tainted by abuse of court process and forum shopping, which, according to him, had been admitted by the prosecution during proceedings on November 28, 2025, as reflected in the court’s record.
The case arose from a midnight raid by the NDLEA on October 26, 2025, at Proxy Night Club, during which Lagos socialite Mike Nwogu, popularly known as Pretty Mike, and over 100 guests were arrested over alleged drug-related activities.
The defendants were later arraigned on drug-related charges, which they denied, and were granted bail on November 7, 2025.
Following the raid, the NDLEA filed a motion ex parte on November 28, 2025, seeking the interim forfeiture of the nightclub on the ground that it was allegedly used as an instrumentality of drug dealing.
Lewis-Allagoa refused the application, citing the constitutional presumption of innocence under Section 36 of the Constitution, and subsequently ordered the unsealing of the property.
In a related development on Wednesday, the court granted an order of substituted service directing that Form 48, the notice of consequences of disobedience of court order, be served on the Chairman of the NDLEA.
Justice Lewis-Allagoa also admonished the NDLEA Chairman to comply fully and promptly with the subsisting orders of the court regarding the unsealing of Proxy Night Club.
The matter was adjourned to February 9 and 10, 2026, for continuation of the trial.
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