A Federal High Court in Ikoyi has cleared nightclub owner Pretty Mike and club supervisor Joachim Hillary of the drug-related charges brought against them.
Justice Ambrose Lewis-Alagoa held that the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) did not present enough evidence to continue the case.
The judge gave the ruling on Wednesday after upholding the defendants’ no-case submission, effectively terminating the drug-related prosecution at the preliminary stage.
Pretty Mike and Hillary had been accused of conspiracy, unlawful possession of hard drugs, and allowing illegal drug activities at Proxy Lagos nightclub in Victoria Island.
The NDLEA had told the court that during a raid on the club on October 26, its officers recovered 169 cylinders of nitrous oxide, also known as laughing gas, weighing 384.662 kilograms, as well as 200 grams of cannabis sativa.
The agency further alleged that the substances were meant for an illegal drug party and also asked the court to order the forfeiture of the nightclub, describing it as a tool used for crime.
However, lead defence lawyer Chikaosolu Ojukwu filed a no-case submission, arguing that the prosecution failed to provide solid and admissible evidence directly connecting his clients to the alleged offences.
He maintained that the evidence presented was weak, inconsistent, and not enough under the law to require the defendants to open their defence.
The defence also argued that suspicion alone or indirect claims without clear proof could not support a criminal case.
According to the legal team, the prosecution did not establish that the defendants owned, controlled, or had knowledge of the alleged substances, which meant the required legal standard for criminal responsibility was not met.
In his judgment, Justice Lewis-Alagoa agreed with the defence and ruled that the evidence fell below the minimum standard needed to sustain the charges.
He then upheld the no-case submission and discharged both Pretty Mike and Joachim Hillary without asking them to enter a defence.
KanyiDaily recalls that Pretty Mike had opened up about the amount he spends on pulling off his extravagant stunts at events.
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