The magistrate court in Yaba, Lagos state has ordered the remand of Seun Kuti, Nigerian afrobeat musician over alledged assault on a police officer.
Magistrate Adeola Olatunbosun gave the order on Tuesday following an application for the remand of Kuti by the Police.
Adeola ordered that Seun be remanded for 48 hours to enable the police conclude it’s investigations on the matter.
Background
On Saturday, kuti was captured on video assaulting a police officer in uniform.
The singer was alledged to had assaulted the police officer on Saturday on the Third Mainland bridge in Lagos State
The video went viral which led to an order for Kuti’s arrest by the Inspector General of police, Usman Alkali Baba.
The singer turned himself in on Monday morning and was arrested by the police who subsequently paraded the singer in handcuffs at the SCID, Lagos.
He was later moved to the state’s Criminal Investigation Department, Panti.
Today he was arraigned by the police and charged with assault on a police officer, an offense contrary to Section 356 of the Nigerian Criminal Code Act.
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Court`s decision
When the matter was called up, The prosecution asked the court to remand Kuti for 21 days pending legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.
In response, Kuti’s counsel, Femi Falana (SAN) urged the court not to remand Kuti on the grounds that his legal team was not aware of the application for remand.
In her rulling, the magistate who said she would not rely on police investigation, ordered the remand of Kuti in police custody for 48 hours.
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.”
Subsequently, She adjourned till May 23, 2023, for mention.
