Lagos-based nightlife personality and club owner, Mike Nwalie, popularly addressed as Pretty Mike, has been granted bail in the sum of N50 million after being taken before the Federal High Court in Lagos on drug-related accusations. He appeared in court alongside the supervisor of his establishment, 32-year-old Joachim Hillary, following a case instituted by the Federal Government through the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency. Both men, who operate at Proxy Lagos Night Club, pleaded not guilty when the charges were read to them before Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa.
According to the NDLEA, an operation was conducted on October 26, 2025, at the nightclub located on Akin Adesola Street in Victoria Island, Lagos. The agency reported recovering 200 grams of Cannabis Sativa and 177 cylinders of Nitrous Oxide, otherwise known as laughing gas, with the total quantity of seized items weighing 364.662 kilograms. The prosecution further alleged that Hillary had been caught with cannabis without permission on October 25, 2025, while accusing Pretty Mike, aged 45, of allowing his premises to be used for drug activities.
The NDLEA maintained that the alleged offences are contrary to the provisions of Sections 14(b) and 20(1)(c) and are punishable under Section 20(2)(b) and Section 12 of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. In requesting bail, their lawyer, Dr. B. S. Awosika (SAN), argued that the defendants were first-time offenders with no record of criminal behaviour and would make themselves available for the court process. The prosecution, however, opposed the application, insisting that the defence had not supplied valid grounds to justify bail and urging the court to instead pursue a speedy trial.
In delivering his ruling, Justice Lewis-Allagoa stated that the law presumes the accused innocent until the court proves otherwise, adding that the responsibility lay on the prosecution to provide sound reasons for refusing bail. He then approved bail for each defendant in the sum of N50 million, with two sureties required to provide the equivalent amount supported by an affidavit of means. Until the bail conditions are fully satisfied, the judge ordered that the defendants remain in the custody of their counsel. The matter has been postponed to January 14, 2026, when the trial will commence.