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A human rights organization, the Centre for Human Rights and Social
Justice(CHRSJ) has strongly condemned the way and manner the Nigeria Police
Force(NPF) treated the son of legend Afro beat Musician, Fela Anikulapo
Kuti, Seun Kuti by putting handcuffed in his hand like common criminal,
saying that those political class which they mortgaged our economic future
and as well involved in financial crime were treated like kings by Police.
Also, condemned the way and manner the Police treated Seen Kuti as if they
have arrested notorious armed robber or murderer by removing all his
belongings.
It further stated that the over zealousness of Nigeria Police, made them to
put handcuffed in the hand of Popular Afrobeat singer, Seun Kuti, who
turned himself in at the Lagos State Police Command Headquarters, Ikeja, in
company of his lawyer and family representative in the early hours of
Monday, where Police was put him under arrest in line with the law.
The group then urged the Police to release Seun Kuti unconditionally as
ordered by the Court of Competent jurisdiction.
In a statement signed by the CHRSJ’s Executive Chairman, Comrade Adeniyi
Alimi Sulaiman and copies were made available to news men on Tuesday,
condemned the unprofessional conduct by the alleged Police officer claimed
to be assaulted by Seun Kuti, noting that Seun Kuti displayed such action
out of provocation against the said police officer.
Comrade Sulaiman, who stated that the Police officer acted in contrary to
the article (1) of the Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials,
stating thus “Law
enforcement officials shall at all times fulfil the duty imposed upon them
by law, by serving the community and by protecting all persons against
illegal acts, consistent with the high degree of responsibility required by
their profession”.
Sulaiman, who doubles as Convener, Save Lagos Group (SLG), advised Seun
Kuti to control his temper in dealing with those Police officer which they
are following him to collect more sum after collecting sum of Twelve
thousand Naira(#12,000) to repair their acclaimed damaged vehicle.
It would be recalled that Afrobeats singer, Seun Kuti, has been remanded in
Police custody for fourth-eight(48) hours after which he has to be granted
bail for assaulting a Police officer.
Kuti, in a 12-second video clip that went viral on 13th May, 2023, had
alleged of assaulting a policeman on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos
State.
The defendant turned himself in at the Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja,
on Monday, 15th May, following an order for his arrest by the
Inspector-General of Police, Usman Alkhali Baba.
He was later transferred to the State’s Criminal Investigation
Department(SCID), Panti-Yaba and was, on Tuesday, 16th May, arraigned
before a Yaba Magistrate’s Court for assault on a Police Officer, an
offence claimed to be 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 the defendant for twenty-one(21) days pending legal advice from
the Directorate of Public Prosecutions.
However, Kuti’s counsel, led by Femi Falana, SAN, prayed the court not to
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, Magistrate Adeola Olatunbosun reading out
her ruling said she would not rely on Police investigation hence she
remanded the defendant for fourth-eight(48) hours in Police custody.
She said: “Court has decided to override any public opinion and pass the
judgment of the court.
The Magistrate further stated that, “following the remand application
presented before the court, I am advising that the case file be duplicated
and sent to the Directorate of Public Please(DPP) within seventh-two(72)
hours.
“The defendant is hereby remanded for fourth-eight(48) hours in police
custody to allow the police to conclude their investigation.
“After fourth-eight(48) hours, the defendant will be granted bail in the
sum of one million Naira (N1m) with two reasonable and responsible
sureties, a three years tax payment receipt that is verifiable; one of the
sureties must have a landed property within the court jurisdiction”
