Seun Kuti, an Afrobeat singer, has been held in police prison for 48 hours after being accused of assaulting a police officer by magistrate Adeola Olatunbosun.
On May 13, 2023, a 12-second video clip of Kuti assaulting a police officer on Lagos State’s Third Mainland Bridge went viral.
Read Also: Seun Kuti Arraigned In Lagos Court Over Assault On Policeman
The defendant surrendered to police on Monday at the Lagos State Police Command in Ikeja after Usman Baba, the inspector general of police, had issued an arrest warrant for him.
He was subsequently transported to the state’s Criminal Investigation Department, Panti, and was on Tuesday charged with assaulting a police officer, a violation of Section 356 of the Nigerian Criminal Code Act, before a Yaba Magistrate’s Court.
S. A. Adebese and Morufu Animashaun, who were leading the prosecution, asked the court to remand the defendant for 21 days while they awaited legal counsel from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.
Though they (the lawyers) were not informed of the remand application, Kuti’s attorneys, led by Femi Falana, SAN, pleaded with the court to not remand their client.
After hearing from both parties, the magistrate asked for a five-minute break so she could think things over on her own.
When the court resumed sitting, the magistrate reading out her ruling said she would not rely on police investigation hence she remanded the defendant for 48 hours in police custody.
She said;
Court has decided to override any public opinion and pass the judgment of the court.
Following the remand application presented before the court, I am advising that the case file be duplicated and sent to the Directorate of public prosecutions within 72 hours.
The defendant is hereby remanded for 48 hours in police custody to allow the police to conclude their investigation.
After 48 hours, the defendant will be granted bail in the sum of N1m with two responsible sureties, a three years tax payment receipt that is verifiable; one of the sureties must have a landed property within the court jurisdiction.
She adjourned the case till May 23, 2023, for mention.
