The flamboyant Lagos socialite known for his eccentric public stunts is currently facing a far more serious stage — the Federal High Court in Lagos. Pretty Mike, whose real name is Mike Eze-Nwalie Nwogu has been arraigned on drug-related offences, with the court setting bail at ₦50 million. Behind the headlines lies a story about nightlife, power, and accountability.
A familiar face in an unfamiliar dock
For years, Pretty Mike has been a fixture of Lagos’s celebrity scene. He became famous for arriving at events with human “pets,” dramatic fashion, and lavish generosity. But on Thursday, November 6, the 37-year-old club owner swapped red carpets for the courtroom as he appeared before Justice Ambrose Lewis-Allagoa of the Federal High Court, Ikoyi.
According to court documents, he was arraigned alongside Joachim Hillary, the 32-year-old supervisor of Proxy Lagos Nightclub, the upscale venue on Akin Adesola Street in Victoria Island that he owns.
Both men stood in the dock as the three-count charge was read to them.
Inside the charges
The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) accused Pretty Mike and Hillary of conspiring to organise a drug party and of permitting the club premises to be used for illegal drug activity.
The alleged offences were said to have occurred on or about October 26, 2025, at the Proxy Lagos premises.
According to the charge sheet, NDLEA officers recovered 177 cylinders of nitrous oxide commonly called laughing gas, weighing 364.662 kilograms, along with 200 grams of Cannabis Sativa.
The prosecution stated that these offences contravene Sections 14(b) and 20(1)(c) of the NDLEA Act, Cap N30, Laws of the Federation 2004.
When the charges were read, both defendants pleaded not guilty.
The courtroom exchange
During the arraignment, NDLEA prosecutor Abu Ibrahim urged the court to remand the defendants pending trial. But defence counsel pleaded for bail, citing their established identities and permanent addresses in Lagos.
After hearing both sides, Justice Lewis-Allagoa granted bail to Pretty Mike and his co-defendant in the sum of ₦50 million each, with two sureties in like sum.
The court ruled that each surety must provide an affidavit of means and show evidence of tax payment for the past three years.
The judge also ordered that the defendants remain in NDLEA custody until their bail conditions are fully met.
The case was adjourned until January 14, 2026, for trial.
A socialite’s complicated fame
Mike Eze-Nwalie Nwogu aka Pretty Mike has long courted both admiration and controversy. Known for flamboyant entrances like appearing at weddings with women on leashes to handing out lavish gifts at parties, he built a reputation for turning Lagos nightlife into performance art.
But with his name now attached to a federal drug charge, the tone has shifted sharply.
In 2021, Pretty Mike had been briefly detained by Lagos authorities after one of his controversial event appearances sparked public outrage. He later said he had “learnt to express art more respectfully.”
The NDLEA crackdown
The NDLEA’s case against Pretty Mike comes amid a wider push by the agency to clamp down on the use of nitrous oxide in Nigerian clubs, a substance popular among young partygoers for its euphoric effects.
In a recent statement, NDLEA spokesperson Femi Babafemi warned:
“Any individual or establishment found to promote or distribute nitrous oxide for recreational use will be held criminally responsible under existing law.”
The Pretty Mike case is seen as one of the highest-profile tests of that policy yet.
Conclusion
Pretty Mike has always lived for the spectacle, grand entrances, unconventional ideas, and the defiance of Lagos’ moral gaze. For years, he built a world where controversy was not just tolerated, but curated. Yet, this time, the stage is different. The lights are harsher, the audience quieter, and the story no longer his to direct.
His ₦50 million bail isn’t just a legal matter, but a turning point. It’s a reminder that every performance has its cost, and that even the loudest names can find themselves silenced by the weight of accountability.
Beyond the headlines, his arraignment speaks to something larger, about how Nigeria’s relationship with fame, indulgence, and freedom is changing.
Whether this becomes Pretty Mike’s reckoning or his rebirth, only time will tell. But for now, the man who once turned nightlife into art finds himself in a different kind of story.