The Lagos State Magistrates’ Court on Thursday ordered further remand of embattled Afrobeat singer, Seun Kuti, for additional four days in police custody.
The singer was taken to court on Tuesday for assaulting a policeman, Inspector Mohammed Aminu, on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos last Saturday as captured in a viral video.
The Chief Magistrate, Adeola Olatubosun, had on Tuesday granted an order for the police to remand the defendant in custody for 48 hours, which elapsed Thursday.
But on Thursday, the police approached the magistrate with a motion ex parte, seeking to extend the remand of the singer.
The 11-man police prosecuting team, led by Simon Lough (SAN), told the magistrate that investigations into the case against the singer had yet to be concluded and that more time was needed.
The motion ex parte was supported with a 12-paragraph affidavit and one exhibit.
Moving the motion, Lough said, “It is our humble submission that from the facts, nature, and circumstance of this case, the applicant is entitled to the relief sought from this honourable court in the interest of justice, public order, and morality.”
Though the defence counsel, Femi Akinyemi, who held briefs for Mr Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), prayed the court to stand down the matter, the court granted the application for an extension of remand.
She ordered that Seun Kuti be further remanded in police custody for additional four days.
She also ordered that the case file be duplicated and sent to the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions for legal advice.
She subsequently adjourned the case till May 23, 2023.
Trouble started for Seun, the youngest son of the late Afrobeat legend, Fela Kuti, a video of him assaulting a police officer on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos State went viral last Saturday.
In the 12-second video, Kuti, who wore a red shirt and a white pair of trousers, was seen pushing a policeman, who stood beside a Toyota Hilux police van. He then proceeded to slap the cop, as he shouted, “You dey craze, you dey mad?”
A motorist, who filmed the incident from his car, was heard saying, “Omo na Kuti o. Na better news be this o.”
The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, reacting, ordered the arrest of the singer.
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