- Safiu Kehinde
A Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has on Wednesday acquitted and discharged Nigerian socialite and nightclub owner, Mike Nwalie, popularly known as Pretty Mike and his club supervisor, Joachim Hillary, of drug charge filed against them by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
NPO Reported that NDLEA operatives had on the 26th of October 2025 raided Proxy Night club owned by Nigerian socialite, arresting him and over 100 others.
The night club, located at 7 Akin Adesola street, Victoria Island, Lagos state, was raided by the NDLEA operatives over alleged organisation of drug party.
Months after the raid, Pretty Mike and Hillary were arraigned on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, unlawful possession of hard drugs, and knowingly permitting the use of club premises for alleged illicit drug activities.
The NDLEA had during the hearing of the case disclosed alleged recovered 169 cylinders of nitrous oxide, commonly known as laughing gas, weighing 384.662 kilograms, as well as 200 grams of cannabis sativa.
According to the agency, the substances were intended for use at an illegal drug party, and it sought to establish that the defendants had knowledge of and control over the items found on the premises.
It also urged the court to consider forfeiture of the nightclub, describing it as an instrument of crime.
In reaction, the defence counsel, Chikaosolu Ojukwu, urged the court to dismiss the case, arguing that the prosecution failed to link the defendants to the alleged offences.
“The prosecution has not led any credible evidence establishing ownership, possession, or knowledge of the alleged substances by the defendants.
“Mere suspicion, however strong, cannot take the place of proof beyond a reasonable doubt,” Ojukwu submitted.
The socialite’s lawyer argued that the evidence led was inconsistent and insufficient in law to require the defendants to open their defence.
Delivering the ruling on Wednesday, the presiding judge, Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa, upheld no-case submission filed by the defence counsel as he agreed with the counsel that the prosecution’s case fell short of the minimum legal threshold.
According to reports, Lewis-Allagoa held that the prosecution failed to establish a prima facie case against the defendants to warrant them being called upon to enter their defence.
“I find that the prosecution has not made out a prima facie case against the defendants,
“To require them to enter their defence would amount to speculation rather than judicial reasoning,
“The evidence placed before the court does not disclose a prima facie case requiring the defendants to enter their defence,” the judge said.
He added that what was presented by the prosecution “at its highest, raises mere suspicion, which cannot ground a criminal conviction.”
Justice Lewis-Allagoa consequently upheld the no-case submission and discharged both defendants.