Following an incident where Seun Kuti, the Afrobeat musician, was captured assaulting a police officer on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos, Magistrate Adeola Olatunbosun has remanded him in police custody for 48 hours. The viral video clip prompted Kuti to turn himself in at the Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja, on Monday, in response to the Inspector-General of Police’s arrest order.
Subsequently, Kuti was transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department at Panti and presented before the Yaba Magistrate’s Court on Tuesday. The charge against him was an assault on a police officer, which violates Section 356 of the Nigerian Criminal Code Act.
During the court proceedings, the prosecution, represented by S.A. Adebese and Morufu Animashaun, sought a 21-day remand for Kuti, pending legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions. However, Kuti’s counsel, led by Femi Falana, SAN, expressed unawareness of the remand application.
After a brief recess, the magistrate delivered her ruling, declaring that she would not solely rely on the police investigation. Consequently, she ordered Kuti’s remand for 48 hours to allow the police to conclude their investigation.
The magistrate also outlined the conditions for Kuti’s bail once the 48-hour period ends. These conditions include a bail amount of N1 million, two responsible sureties, and a three-year verifiable tax payment receipt. Additionally, one of the sureties must possess a landed property within the court’s jurisdiction.
The case was adjourned until May 23rd, 2023, for the mention, while the magistrate directed the duplication of the case file and its submission to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions within 72 hours.