Assault: Court Remands Seun Kuti In Police Custody

A Lagos State Magistrate’s Court sitting in Yaba, on Tuesday remanded Afrobeat singer, Seun Kuti in police custody for 48 hours to enable the police to conclude its investigation into an allegation of assault brought against him.

Magistrate Adeola Olatunbosun, who presided over the matter, also ordered the police to release the musician after the stipulated period on bail and also send the case file to the Directorate of Public Prosecution (DPP), so that legal advice can be issued.

The Lagos State Police command, which arraigned Kuti on a one-count charge of assault contrary to Section 356 of the Nigerian Criminal Code Act, had initially urged the court to order his remand for 21 days pending the conclusion of the police investigation.

The police prosecutor, Sunday Adebese, had insisted that the police are yet to conclude its investigation and that the DPP is yet to issue legal advice on the case.

But the defence lawyer, Femi Falana (SAN), urged the Magistrate to refuse the request, stating that the allegations against his client are bailable and that the police can not keep him behind bars in violation of his rights.

Falana, therefore, asked the court to grant the defendant bail and that he would always show up for his trial anytime the police were ready to proceed with the matter.

In her ruling, Magistrate Olatunbosun ordered that the police can only keep the defendant in its custody for the next 48 hours, after which he must be released on bail.

The court stated, “Following the remand application presented before the court, I advise that the case file be duplicated and sent to the Directorate of public prosecutions within 72 hours.

“The defendant is 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 N1 million 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, she directed.

The Magistrate then adjourned the case to May 23 for mention.