Before Tuesday at noon, Afolabi Kazeem Micheal, the socialite known as ‘KayCee Luxury’, was simply known for flaunting his flashy collection of expensive belongings on social media. He was just another Lagos big boy whose wealth could only be measured by his packed garage of cars, shimmering boxes of jewellery, and Snapchat reels of trips to Paris and Milan to shop some more. A lifestyle that endlessly gathered many admirers in comment sessions on TikTok and Instagram.
Then the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) flaunted him before the world, allegedly linking him with the seizure of 184.5kg of cocaine. The agency described the operation as the largest cocaine bust from a courier company in its history.
According to Buba Marwa, the NDLEA chairman, the arrest followed intelligence that KayCee Luxury was preparing to flee the country for another trip to Paris. He was apprehended on August 13 at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport in Lagos.
Afolabi Kazeem Micheal, aka KC Luxury, with the 184.5kg of cocaine he’s allegedly linked with
At the time of his arrest, KayCee Luxury was allegedly carrying €7,750, £2,800, N100,000 and expensive jewellery. The NDLEA said it nabbed him alongside Lawal Kehinde, an employee of a logistics company allegedly connected to the consignment. The agency added that the investigation indicated that Nigeria was being used as a transit hub for illicit drugs destined for the United Kingdom, Europe and Asia. The anti-drug body described the celebrity jeweller as the “Nigerian arrowhead” of the cartel operation.
The arrest has now put KayCee Luxury’s lifestyle under scrutiny, particularly his wealth, luxury possessions, and constant hobnobbing with celebrities and politicians.
A CELEBRITY JEWELLER, LIFESTYLE INFLUENCER WITH NEARLY 700K INSTAGRAM FOLLOWERS
KayCee Luxury markets himself online as a successful serial entrepreneur with interests spanning lifestyle branding and luxury assets.
On his now-locked Instagram page, he styles himself as the chief executive officer (CEO) and founder of KayCee Luxury Group, a high-end business dealing in gold, jewellery, luxury watches and exotic cars.
KayCee Luxury in designer clothes and bling
Over the years, he has built a strong social media presence with nearly 700,000 followers on Instagram and more on Snapchat around an extravagant lifestyle, regularly sharing clips of his luxury possessions and travels.
He is popular with the notorious Lekki car spotters, a group of social media content creators who identify and hail celebrities as their expensive vehicles roll by.
Several viral videos show him flaunting exotic cars, designer jewellery, private jet trips, mansion tours and yacht living.
His reported collection of luxury items includes several Hermès and Birkin bags, a vast collection of wristwatches and an expensive fleet of vehicles.
Some of the cars in KayCee Luxury’s garage
Cars associated with him include a Brabus XLP, Ferrari Purosangue, Lamborghini Urus, Range Rover Autobiography, Mercedes-Benz, Rolls-Royce Spectre, and Tesla Cybertruck. Together, the rides are worth $3.6 million.
KayCee is also said to own two ultra-exclusive Virgil Abloh-designed Mercedes-Maybachs; only 150 units of the limited edition sedan were ever produced.
In 2018, he became relatively popular after he sued Davido over the artiste’s alleged failure to pay for “a gold and diamond chain with a set of matching wristwatch” worth N60 million. KayCee further alleged that Davido had threatened to kill him when he demanded the payment.
His lawyer’s letter ordered that Davido pay for the jewellery within seven days or face court action. The letter was the last the public heard about the case.
FROLICKING WITH CELEBRITIES AND POLITICIANS
High-class taste comes with similar associations. The group most associated with luxury items are celebrities, and KayCee Luxury has been spotted hobnobbing with plenty of them.
In May, he was seen posing for pictures with Yhemo Lee, fellow socialite, and Shina Peller, former House of Representatives member, at the politician’s 50th birthday ceremony.
His social media posts have also shown him with several prominent Nigerian celebrities, including Wasiu Ayinde, Fuji musician known as KWAM 1, Wizkid, among others.
He is also rumoured to have been romantically involved with several female celebrities.
WHAT NEXT FOR KC LUXURY?
In all of this, one question remains: what happens to KC Luxury after this?
He is expected to remain in NDLEA custody as investigations into the alleged drug trafficking operation continue.
The full extent of the investigation remains unclear; however, NDLEA said other suspected members of the network in the UK have also been arrested by counterpart law enforcement agencies overseas.
