Seun Kuti, an Afrobeat musician, has been granted bail by the Chief Magistrate Court in Yaba, Lagos State.
According to the court order, the Nigerian police have been instructed to complete their investigation into the alleged assault of a policeman within 48 hours.
The Police Prosecutor, S.A Adebese requested that the court detain the defendant for 21 days until legal advice is received from the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.
Kuti’s legal team, headed by Femi Falana, SAN, requested that the court not remand their client. They claimed that they were not informed about the remand application.
On May 13, 2023, a 12-second video clip went viral showing Kuti assaulting a policeman on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos State.
On Monday, the defendant surrendered himself to the Lagos State Police Command in Ikeja, in response to an arrest warrant issued by the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba.
He was later transferred to the state’s Criminal Investigation Department, Panti and was, on Tuesday, arraigned before a Yaba Magistrate’s Court for assault on a police officer, an offence contrary to Section 356 of the Nigerian Criminal Code Act.
On Tuesday, during the court proceedings, the magistrate requested a five-minute break after hearing from both parties. She stated that she needed time to deliberate on her own.
The court resumed sitting and the magistrate announced her ruling. She stated that she would not be relying on the police investigation and ordered that the defendant be remanded in police custody for 48 hours.
According to her, the court has made a decision that supersedes any public opinion and will issue a judgement.
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The speaker is recommending that the case file be duplicated and sent to the Directorate of Public Prosecutions within 72 hours, following a remand application presented before the court.
The defendant has been remanded for 48 hours in police custody to enable the police to complete their investigation.
The court has granted the defendant bail in the sum of N1m after 48 hours. The bail requires two responsible sureties who have a three-year tax payment receipt that can be verified. Additionally, one of the sureties must have a landed property within the court’s jurisdiction.
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The case was adjourned until May 23, 2023, for mention.
