A Sabo-Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos State, on Tuesday, ordered the remand of afrobeat singer Seun Kuti for allegedly assaulting a police officer on the Third Mainland Bridge.
The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Adeola Olatubosun, ordered that Kuti should be remanded for 48 hours in police custody. She added that the defendant 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.
The defendant turned himself in at the Lagos State Police Command, Ikeja, on Monday, following an order for his arrest by the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba.
He was later transferred to Okay 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.
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.
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.
When the court resumed sitting, the magistrate reading out her ruling said she would not rely on police investigation hence she remanded the defendant for 48 hours in police custody.
She 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 case was adjourned till May 23, 2023, for mention.
