The Federal High Court sitting in Lagos has granted bail in the sum of ₦50 million to popular socialite and nightclub owner, Mike Nwalie, widely known as Pretty Mike, following his arraignment on alleged drug-related offences.

Nwalie, the owner of Proxy Lagos Nightclub, and the club’s supervisor, Joachim Hillary, 32, were arraigned by the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) before Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa on a three-count charge bordering on conspiracy, unlawful possession of narcotics, and permitting the use of premises for illegal drug activities.

According to the prosecution counsel, Buhari Abdullahi, the offences were allegedly committed on or about October 26, 2025, at the nightclub located at No. 7, Akin Adesola Street, Victoria Island, Lagos.

The NDLEA alleged that the defendants conspired to organise a “drug party” at the club, where operatives later recovered 200 grams of Cannabis Sativa and 177 cylinders of Nitrous Oxide (commonly known as laughing gas), weighing 364.662 kilograms in total.

The prosecution further claimed that Hillary was found in possession of 200 grams of Cannabis Sativa without lawful authority, while Pretty Mike allegedly permitted the use of his club premises for drug-related activities.

Abdullahi stated that the alleged offences contravene Sections 14(b) and 20(1)(c) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004, and are punishable under Sections 20(2)(b) and 12 of the same Act.

Both defendants, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges.

Following their plea, the defence counsel, Dr. B. S. Awosika (SAN), urged the court to grant his clients bail on liberal terms, arguing that they had no prior criminal records and posed no flight risk.

He maintained that the prosecution failed to provide any compelling reason to deny bail.

The prosecutor, however, opposed the bail application, contending that the defendants had not furnished sufficient materials to warrant their release and requested an accelerated trial instead.

In his ruling, Justice Lewis-Allagoa held that the defendants were entitled to the constitutional presumption of innocence until proven guilty, and that the prosecution had not established valid grounds to justify denying them bail.

The court subsequently granted each defendant bail in the sum of ₦50 million, with two sureties in like sum. The sureties are required to swear to an affidavit of means, while the defendants were released to their counsel pending the perfection of their bail conditions.

The matter was adjourned to January 14, 2026, for the commencement of trial.