A Magistrate Court has remanded Afrobeat singer, Seun Kuti, for 48 hours in police custody for allegedly bullying and assaulting a police officer.
Magistrate Adeola Olatunbosun handed down the order after the Saxophonist was arraigned on Tuesday.
Kuti, in a 12-second video clip that went viral on May 13, 2023, was seeing assaulted a policeman and on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos State.
The defendant turned himself in at the Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja, on Monday, following an order for his arrest by the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba.
The singer was later moved to Lagos Criminal Investigation Department, Panti and arraigned on Tuesday before a Yaba Magistrate’s Court for assault on a police officer.
The offence is deemed contrary to Section 356 of the Nigerian Criminal Code Act.
The prosecution led by S. A Adebese and Morufu Animashaun prayed the court to remand Seun Kuti for 21 days pending legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions(DPP).
However, Kuti’s counsel, led by Femi Falana, SAN, who was represented by Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, SAN, prayed the court to not remand the accused, stating that they (the counsel) were not aware of the remand application.
The magistrate after listening to both parties asked for a five – minute of recess stating to deliberate alone.
She also handed her phone to the registrar to avoid calls from both parties.
When the court resumed sitting, the magistrate in her ruling, held that she would not rely on police investigation and 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.”
The Magistrate adjourned the case till May 23, 2023, for mention.
