Lagos, Nigeria — A Federal High Court in Ikoyi, Lagos has discharged popular socialite and Proxy Lagos nightclub owner Mike Nwalie, widely known as Pretty Mike, and the club’s supervisor, Joachim Hillary, after upholding a no-case submission in their drug-related trial.
Justice Ambrose Lewis-Alagoa delivered the ruling on Wednesday, ending the prosecution brought by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
The court held that the evidence presented by the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case that would require the defendants to open a defence.
Pretty Mike and Hillary were arraigned on a three-count charge that touches on conspiracy,
Unlawful possession of hard drugs, and knowingly allowing the use of the club premises for illicit drug activities.
The charges followed an NDLEA raid on Proxy Lagos nightclub in Victoria Island on October 26.
The agency specifically stated that it recovered 169 cylinders of nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, weighing 384.662 kilograms, along with 200 grams of cannabis sativa.
The NDLEA further alleged that the substances were intended for use at an illegal drug party and argued that the nightclub was an instrument of crime, seeking its forfeiture.
At the close of the prosecution’s case, the counsel for the defence, Chikaosolu Ojukwu (SAN) filed a no-case submission.
He argued that the prosecution failed to present credible, admissible evidence directly linking the defendants to the offences.
Ojukwu described the evidence as weak, inconsistent, and insufficient in law, adding that suspicion or circumstantial claims without clear evidential linkage cannot sustain a criminal charge.
The defence maintained that the NDLEA did not establish ownership, control, or knowledge of the alleged substances by Pretty Mike or Hillary.
Justice Alagoa agreed with the defence. The court found that the prosecution’s evidence did not meet the minimum legal standard to sustain the charges and amounted to mere suspicion without cogent proof linking the defendants to drug activities.
Relying on criminal procedure provisions, the judge held that where no prima facie case is disclosed, the court must uphold a no-case submission.
Both Pretty Mike and Hillary were discharged without being called to enter a defence.
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