A Lagos-based entertainer and nightclub owner, Mike Nwalie, popularly known as Pretty Mike, has been granted ₦50 million bail by the Federal High Court in Lagos following his arraignment on drug-related charges.
Nwalie, who owns Proxy Lagos Night Club, was arraigned alongside the club’s supervisor, Joachim Hillary (32), by the Federal Government of Nigeria through the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA).
Both defendants appeared before Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, unlawful possession, and permitting the use of the club for illegal drug activities.
According to the NDLEA’s prosecution counsel, Buhari Abdullahi, the alleged offences took place on or about October 26, 2025, at the nightclub located at No. 7, Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.
The anti-drug agency accused Pretty Mike and Hillary of conspiring to organise a drug party at the club. During a follow-up operation, NDLEA operatives reportedly recovered 200 grams of Cannabis Sativa and 177 cylinders of Nitrous Oxide (laughing gas) weighing 364.662 kilograms in total.
Abdullahi further alleged that Hillary was found in possession of Cannabis Sativa without lawful authority on October 25, 2025, while Pretty Mike was accused of allowing his nightclub to be used for drug-related activities.
The prosecution stated that the offences contravened Sections 14(b) and 20(1)(c), and were punishable under Section 20(2)(b) and 12 of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty to all charges.
Defence counsel, Dr. B.S. Awosika (SAN), urged the court to grant bail on liberal terms, arguing that the defendants had no prior criminal records and were prepared to stand trial.
However, the NDLEA prosecutor opposed the bail application, insisting that the defendants failed to present sufficient justification for bail and instead urged the court to order an accelerated trial.
In his ruling, Justice Lewis-Allagoa held that the defendants were “presumed innocent until proven guilty,” stressing that the prosecution must provide strong reasons to deny bail.
He granted each defendant bail in the sum of ₦50 million, with two sureties in like sum, and directed that the sureties swear to an affidavit of means.
The court also released the defendants to their counsel pending the fulfilment of the bail conditions and adjourned the case to January 14, 2026, for the commencement of trial.
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