23rd May, 2023
Afrobeat singer Seun Kuti who has been in police detention over his trial on charges of assaulting a police officer was released on Tuesday evening.
Seun Kuti was arraigned before a Chief Magistrate Court, Yaba on May 16, over charges of assaulting a police officer.
This was after a video in which he was seen slapping and shoving a police officer on May 13 on the Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos State went viral.
The police charged him with slapping an inspector after driving dangerously on the bridge and deliberately blocking a moving police vehicle.
Chief Magistrate Adeola Olatubosun had during his first arraignment ordered his remand for 48 hours.
She, however, held that the Seun Kuti should be admitted to bail in the sum of one million Naira with two sureties in like sum, at the end of the 48-hour remand.
However, the Magistrate had after the expiration of the 48 hours last on Thursday, adjourned the case till today, Tuesday.
This was after she extended Kuti’s remand by four days following an application by the police to enable completion of investigation into the alleged assault.
But the Magistrate failed to show up in court early today, leading to protests by some youths at the court premises.
They carried placards with inscriptions such as “Free Seun Kuti”.
One of the protesters, who didn’t mention her name, alleged in an interview with NAN that the absence was mischievous and intended to further keep Kuti in custody.
Another protester, Mr Hakeem Abodunrin, urged the court not to delay Kuti’s release from custody.
” The alleged offence is straightforward, and the case should be treated accordingly,” he said.
Activist Omoyele Sowore announced on Tuesday via his Twitter handle that the music star has regained his freedom.
He wrote, “Just to announce that @RealSeunKuti has been released from @PoliceNG detention in Lagos. Hasta la victoria siempre!”
Recall that Kuti’s lawyers in a statement had earlier said that he would be released on bail as ordered by the Magistrate.
A viral video shows Kuti smiling gleefully as he is being welcomed by by his teeming fans after his release
Updated