The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has initiated legal action to take permanent ownership of a popular Lagos nightclub owned by the socialite Mike Nwogu, widely known as Pretty Mike.
This followed a raid on the venue this past weekend, where over 100 people were arrested for their alleged involvement in a “drug party.”
The NDLEA Chairman, Brig. Gen. Buba Marwa (retd), announced that a forfeiture suit has been filed against the Proxy Night Club, located on Akin Adesola Street in Victoria Island, Lagos.
He stated that the agency was taking this firm action because the club owner had “brazenly advertised” an event specifically for drug use.
The operation unfolded after NDLEA operatives received intelligence that flyers were being circulated to invite people to the drug party. According to the agency’s Director of Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi, undercover officers infiltrated the club. They reportedly purchased illicit drugs and monitored the activities inside for approximately four hours before other operatives moved in to raid the premises.
The raid took place late on Saturday and continued into the early hours of Sunday. Officials said they recovered a significant quantity of illicit substances from a storage area within the club, including 384.886 kilograms of a strong strain of cannabis known as Canadian Loud.
Speaking at an annual commendation ceremony for NDLEA staff in Abuja, where several personnel were recognised for their work, Gen. Marwa explained the rationale behind the severe forfeiture measure.
“In Nigeria, the possession and use of drugs in persons or premises is illegal. It is against the law, and we are the drug law enforcement agency to enforce the law,” he said. “We will not allow a culture of impunity such as this to evolve in Nigeria. If you allow one, give it two or three weeks, and every nightclub in the country will invite people to come and have a drug party. We will not allow it.”
He issued a direct warning to other venue owners across the country, stating that their properties would be at risk if they were used for similar activities.
“All club owners, hoteliers, and the like should be aware that the risk is the forfeiture of their properties if they are used for perpetrating criminal drug activities. And we will definitely make an example with this particular club in Lagos,” he added.
During the ceremony, Gen. Marwa also highlighted the broader achievements of the NDLEA over the past two and a half years. He reported that the agency had made 45,853 arrests and seized more than 8.5 million kilogrammes of various illegal drugs.
He further stated that the agency had secured 9,263 convictions in court and had provided counselling and rehabilitation to 26,613 drug users. In addition, he said the NDLEA had conducted nearly 10,000 public sensitisation campaigns as part of its War Against Drug Abuse initiative.
“In the past 30 months, on our two major plans of drug demand reduction and drug supply reduction, leading to 45,853 arrests. Seizure of over 8.5 million kilogrammes of assorted illicit drugs and conviction of 9,263 offenders, with 26,613 drug users counselled and rehabilitated in our treatment facilities spread across the country, while a total of 9,848 war against drug abuse sensitisation activities were conducted in schools, workplaces, markets, motorparks, churches, mosques, and communities, among others, during the same period,” Marwa said.
He commended the officers and staff of the agency for their dedication and performance, noting that the recognition system had helped to strengthen morale.
The legal move to seize the nightclub represents one of the NDLEA’s most significant public actions against a high-profile entertainment venue, signalling a strict new approach to combating drug use in social spaces.
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