Assault: Seun Kuti remanded, police comb home for exhibits
Lagos State Magistrates’ Court, Yaba on Tuesday issued an order remanding Afrobeat musician Seun Kuti in police jail for 48 hours.
In response to a viral video showing Kuti attacking Inspector Mohammed Aminu last Saturday in Lagos, the police took him into court.
The late Fela Kuti’s youngest son turned himself into police on Monday after Usman Baba, the police inspector general, had issued an arrest warrant for him. He has been in detention ever then.
The police ON Tuesday brought him before the magistrate to request an order to hold him in detention until the end of the investigation.
According to the police, Kuti violated Section 356 of the Nigerian Criminal Code Act by reportedly attacking a police officer who was on duty, according to magistrate Adeola Olatunbosun.
Read Also: Seun Kuti Arrested, Detained For Assaulting Police Officer
Adebeshin and Morufu Animashaun, who are leading the prosecution, claim that on May 13, 2023, the defendant assaulted and hurt a police officer, prevented him from performing his legal duties, and acted in a way that would have disturbed the peace.
Police claimed that the singer purposefully grabbed a uniformed police officer and slapped him in the face while driving recklessly across the Third Mainland Bridge.
The prosecution prayed the court to remand Seun Kuti for 21 days pending legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.
They stated that the application was to allow the police complete investigation on the matter.
The prosecution further claimed that the assaulted policeman was in an undisclosed hospital, later discovered to be the Police clinic, Ikeja, receiving medical attention.
However, the lead defence counsel, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), contended that he was unaware of the remand application, adding that there was no basis to request for the remand of his client.
The SAN argued that the offences levelled against his client were bailable.
“The offences and punishment are straightforward and well stated under the law.
The Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer, Benjamin Hundeyin did not respond to inquiries by our correspondent concerning the incident as of press time, despite phone calls and text messages to his telephone line on Tuesday.
Earlier on Tuesday, the singer’s lawyer, in a statement, lamented that the police on Monday did not allow his wife access to give him food in the cell.
Assault: Seun Kuti remanded, police comb home for exhibits
