…granted N50m bail

Popular Lagos socialite and entertainer Mike Nwalie, widely known as Pretty Mike, was arraigned on Thursday before a Federal High Court sitting in Ikoyi, Lagos, over alleged drug-related offences.

Nwalie, the proprietor of Proxy Lagos Night Club, was arraigned alongside the club’s supervisor, Joachim Hillary, 32, by the Federal Government of Nigeria (FGN) through the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).

The two defendants appeared before Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, possession, and allowing the use of the club premises for illegal drug activities.

The charge, dated October 30, 2025, stemmed from an incident that allegedly occurred on or about October 26, 2025, at the popular nightclub located at No. 7 Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

In Count One, the NDLEA accused both defendants of conspiring to organise a drug party at the club premises, adding that during a subsequent operation, agents allegedly recovered a significant cache of illicit substances.

According to the NDLEA, the items recovered included 200 grams of Cannabis Sativa, a narcotic drug, and 177 cylinders of Nitrous Oxide, commonly known as laughing gas. The cylinders of the said substance, described by the agency as harmful and abused, reportedly weighed 364.662 kilograms.

The prosecution stated that the alleged offence is contrary to and punishable under Section 14(b) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.

Count Two was levelled solely against the supervisor, Joachim Hillary, accusing him of possessing the 200 grams of Cannabis Sativa on or about October 25, 2025, at the same location, without lawful authority. This act, the prosecution said, contravenes Section 20(1)(c) and is punishable under Section 20(2)(b) of the same Act.

Count Three specifically targeted Mike Nwalie, 45, in his capacity as the proprietor, occupier, and person in charge of Proxy Lagos Night Club.

The charge alleged that on or about October 26, 2025, Nwalie allowed the premises to be used for a drug party and drug dealing, contrary to and punishable under Section 12 of the NDLEA Act.

Both defendants pleaded not guilty to the charges. Following their plea, NDLEA counsel, Buhari Abdullahi, requested a trial date.

However, counsel for the defendants, Dr B.S. Awosika (SAN), informed the court of a pending bail application on behalf of his clients.

While arguing the bail application, Awosika pleaded with the court to grant bail to the defendants on the most liberal terms, insisting that they had no prior criminal records.

He argued that the burden rests on the prosecution to show cause why bail should be denied.

Opposing the application, Abdullahi contended that the defendants had not provided sufficient material facts to justify bail and urged the court to dismiss the application and order an accelerated hearing instead.

In his ruling, Justice Lewis-Allagoa held that the burden lies on the prosecution to provide valid reasons why bail should be refused, noting that the defendants remain presumed innocent until proven guilty.

The judge further stated that the essence of bail is to ensure that defendants appear in court to face trial. He consequently granted each defendant bail in the sum of ?50,000,000, with two responsible sureties in like sum.

Justice Lewis-Allagoa also directed that the sureties must swear to an affidavit of means, and that the defendants should remain in the custody of their counsel pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions.

The matter was adjourned to January 14, 2026, for commencement of trial. (TRIBUNE)