Alleged Assault:Urgent Request to Chief Magistrate of Yaba Court!
WE are seeking a Fresh Court Permission to Forcibly Draw SEUN ANIKULAPO KUTI’S Blood for Positive Drug Testing -NIGERIA Police Force
…We found a Gun License Receipt in his house bearing his name during search, but Gun already taken out for Repairs
*Intends to file additional charges of Cannabis Usage and Weapons’ Running
*Litigation, Delay designed to frustrate Musician’s Egypt ‘80 Summer Performance Tour already booked Overseas
*“Police handcuffed Fela’s son like a notorious armed robber or hardened criminal in an overzealous manner, and must be released unconditionally. Let the court decide his fate. Police acting in contrary to the article (1) of the Code of Conduct for Law Enforcement Officials”-Social Justice Equity, Rights Group
*“Nigerian Police is asking the Chief Magistrate in Lagos to allow them to forcefully draw @RealSeunKuti’s blood for testing after they didn’t find anything in his house and car during the search. This is about revenge not justice”-OMOYELE Sowore
*BY ADEGOKE ADEYEMI/ENTERTAINMENT EDITOR, Lagos
THERE SEEMS to be many obstacles placed on the way of the last born of the Legendary Afrobeat Maestro, Fela Anikulapo Kuti as Seun-the baby of the house is struggling to free himself from various web designed to delay his Summer trip overseas performance with the Egypt ‘80 and intention to prosecute him for other charges including ‘Cannabis Usage and Gun Running’ based on the latest search made by the law enforcement agents to the singer’s mansion a few days ago. The Nigerian Police Force has now approached the Yaba Magistrate Court seeking an urgent order to forcibly draw Seun’s blood for positive drug outcome.
This co
mes as the police frantically search for evidence to allegedly nail the Afrobeat musician for other crimes, after a search of his house.
The police in Lagos, Southwest Nigeria, have asked the Chief Magistrate of Yaba Court to allow them forcibly draw Seun Kuti’s blood for testing, believing the outcome of the blood draw will reveal a ‘positive outcome’.
“Police have asked the Chief Magistrate of Yaba court to allow them to forcibly draw Seun Kuti’s blood after they did not find anything incriminating in his house and car,” a source said.
It was reported that the musician was on Thursday rushed back to the magistrate court in Yaba, Lagos by the police to seek four days’ extension ‘to conclude investigations’.
Seun was arraigned in court on Tuesday for allegedly assaulting a police officer, an offence contrary to Section 356 of the Nigerian Criminal Code Act. But he was granted a suspended bail on Tuesday.
Earlier on Thursday, the musician could not return home yet due to a delay caused by the Chief Magistrate and Registrar of the Yaba Court in Lagos.
It was learnt that the police took Seun to court again on Thursday to seek the magistrate’s permission to hold him for more days, without informing the musician’s lawyers.
The law enforcement source told our correspondent that “Seun Kuti was rushed back to court by police to get four more days’ extension to conclude investigations. This is apparently to forestall the commencement of his summer tour that should start on Saturday
“The case was stood down and his lawyers are heading to court. Instead of signing his bail bond, the Chief Magistrate commenced a secret hearing that didn’t notify his lawyers,” a source privy to the hearing had said.
The Chief Magistrate Court in Yaba, Lagos granted bail to Seun Kuti on Tuesday and ordered the police to finish their investigation into the alleged assault of a policeman in 48 hours and allow Kuti to go home.
The Chief Magistrate also asked the police to remove themselves from prosecuting him.
She directed that the case file should be duplicated and forwarded to the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions for prosecution.
SaharaReporters reported on Wednesday that the police invaded Seun Kuti’s house, to search for evidence of cannabis and weapons to incriminate him.
The Police source confirmed a few days ago that the operatives however found only a “gun license” and when they requested to see the gun, they were told it had been sent for repairs.
It will be recalled that earlier on Tuesday reported that the police stormed the residence of Seun Kuti, thoroughly combed and ransacked it in search of evidence to nail the Afrobeat singer.
It was learnt that the officers took the musician along when they went to his house and seized his wife’s mobile phone.
On Thursday, it was also reported that the police tried to search Seun’s Mercedes Benz car which was parked at his friend’s house. However, it was learnt that they could not enter the car.
It could be recalled that on Monday, Seun was arrested and handcuffed following his visit to the state police command.
For the records, the musician kept his word that he would cooperate with the police by turning himself in on Monday to cooperate with the investigation into the allegation that he assaulted a policeman as captured in a viral video.
Omoyele Sowore, a former presidential candidate of the African Action Congress in the 2023 election, Omoyele Sowore on Friday accused the police of seeking revenge and not justice.
“@PoliceNG asks the Chief Magistrate in Lagos to allow them to forcefully draw @RealSeunKuti’s blood for testing after they didn’t find anything in his house and car during the search. This is about revenge not justice! #Revolutionnow,” he tweeted.
Assault: Rights group condemns Handcuffed on Fela’s son, Seun Kuti
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 Afrobeat 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 Kuti as if they had arrested a notorious armed robber or murderer by removing all his belongings.
It further stated that the overzealousness of Nigeria Police, made them to put handcuffed in the hand of Popular Afrobeat singer, 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 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 the musician, noting that Seun 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 fulfill 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 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 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 allegedly assaulted 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 offense 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, Seun’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: “The 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 seventy-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 forty-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”.
She therefore adjourned the case to the 23rd day of May, 2023, for mention.
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