Court Takes Decision On Police’ Request To Detain Seun Kuti For 21 Days | READ DETAILS
Nigerian Afrobeat singer, Seun Kuti will spend extra two days in police custody for the Force to complete investigation into his alleged assault of an officer of the law, Yaba Magistrate Court ruled on Tuesday.
Recall that the Inspector General of Police, Usman Alkali Baba ordered for Kuti’s arrest after he was caught on camera physically assaulting a uniformed man on Third Main land bridge in Lagos on Saturday.
He however turned himself in at the Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja, on Monday, May 15 and was later transferred to the State’s Criminal Investigation Department (SCID), Panti.
While he was being arraigned before Magistrate Adeola Olatunbosun on Tuesday, the prosecution led by S. A Adebese and Morufu Animashaun prayed the court to remand the defendant for 21 days pending legal advice from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions for violating Section 356 of the Nigerian Criminal Code Act.
However, Kuti’s counsel, led by Femi Falana, SAN, prayed the court to not remand his client, stating that they (the counsel) were not aware of the remand application.
The magistrate after listening to both parties requested five minutes of recess stating that she needed to deliberate on her own. She however handed her phone to the registrar to avoid calls from both parties.
When the court resumed sitting, the magistrate reading out her ruling 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 matter was adjourned till May 23, 2023, for mention.
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