ASSAULT:
Nigeria Police detains Fela’s son, SEUN ANIKULAPO KUTI, Rejects Administrative Bail application, block Access to Food, Shower, seized mobile phone
…says: ‘He is in our custody undergoing thorough investigation. We will teach him the lesson of a lifetime to respect police authority in uniform. No one is above the law’
*“We have it documented as evidence that Seun Kuti apologized to our police officer he assaulted secretly, and handed him N12,000 to repair the police vehicle vandalized by the musician. We will arraign him in court soon”-Benjamin Hundeyin, Public Relations Officer in Lagos
*“For inside the State Criminal Investigation Department ( Panti), Yaba, Lagos State today, police officers there dey humiliate me, disgrace me, abuse me; come dey threaten me on top of am. Dem dey use many bad words against me. My wife wey bring food again come for me, make i chop, dem chase am away, come dey tell am say if she show face for Panti again, dem go arrest am. I get my own video recording evidence”-SEUN KUTI
*BY TIM KAYODE/SPECIAL Crime Correspondent in Nigeria & GEORGE ELIJAH OTUMU/AMERICA Senior Investigative Editor
THIS IS NOT THE best of times for SEUN ANIKULAPO KUTI, son of FELA- the late Afrobeat legend, who was seen a few days ago when he slapped a Nigeria Police officer in uniform. Though Seun Kuti later apologized to the said officer and gave him the sum of N12,000 to repair the damaged police vehicle. As Seun honored the invite of the Lagos State Commissioner of police. He was promptly denied his ‘free-movement and handed over to law enforcement officers representing the State Criminal Investigation Department, popularly known as Panti, in Yaba, Lagos State, on Monday morning. The Afrobeat singer was immediately handcuffed from behind, and denied any kind of bail, as police officers representing ‘Panti’ drove the suspect to their police base, after seizing his mobile phone.
As at the time of filing in this report, Seun had been detained, placed in custody, blocked access to shower, access to food, as his mobile phone had been seized on arrival in Panti. His wife who brought him food was harassed, shouted down and warned not to visit the police office again.
Seun Kuti spends night in custody, police plan arraignment:
The Lagos State Police Command on Monday reiterated that Afrobeat musician, Seun will be taken to court for arraignment for assaulting a policeman on duty in Lagos on Saturday as captured in a viral video.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Lagos, Benjamin Hundeyin, reportedly said that the musician, who turned himself in on Monday and was handcuffed and detained, would spend the night in custody.
Seun, the youngest son of the late Afrobeat legend, Fela Kuti, submitted himself at the State Criminal Investigation Department, popularly known as Panti, in Yaba, Lagos State, on Monday morning.
He was accompanied by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, alongside a lawyer from Falana and Falana Chambers, Mr Femi Akinyemi.
The police released a video clip and pictures showing the musician in handcuffs while being paraded by police officers at the SCID, Lagos.
Trouble began on Saturday when a video of the musician assaulting a police officer on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos State went viral.
In the 12-second video, Kuti, who wore a red shirt and 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.
But Seun Kuti, in a social media post on Saturday, alleged that the policeman in question made an attempt on his life and those of his family members.
Seun Kuti spends night in custody, police plan arraignment:
The Lagos State Police Command on Monday reiterated that Afrobeat musician, Seun Kuti, will be taken to court for arraignment for assaulting a policeman on duty in Lagos on Saturday as captured in a viral video.
The Police Public Relations Officer in Lagos, Benjamin Hundeyin, told The PUNCH that the musician, who turned himself in on Monday and was handcuffed and detained, would spend the night in custody.
Confirming this development to our correspondent in a telephone interview on Monday night:
“Seun Kuti is still in our custody; he’ll be arraigned once investigation is concluded,” Hundeyin told our custody Monday night.
The PUNCH reports that Seun, the youngest son of the late Afrobeat legend, Fela Kuti, submitted himself at the State Criminal Investigation Department, popularly known as Panti, in Yaba, Lagos State, on Monday morning.
He was accompanied by a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, alongside a lawyer from Falana and Falana Chambers, Mr Femi Akinyemi.
The police released a video clip and pictures showing the musician in handcuffs while being paraded by police officers at the SCID, Lagos. A top police officer in Panti grinding ear-to-ear, laughing loudly, said: “We are happy, he is in our custody undergoing thorough investigation. We will teach him the lesson of a lifetime to respect police authority in uniform. No one is above the law’.
Trouble began on Saturday when a video of the musician assaulting a police officer on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos State went viral.
In the 12-second video, Kuti, who wore a red shirt and 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.
But Seun Kuti, in a social media post on Saturday, alleged that the policeman in question made an attempt on his life and those of his family members.
However, our correspondent reliably gathered on Monday that the singer later apologised to the policeman and offered him N12,000 officer to repair his (policeman’s) damaged vehicle.
According to sources privy to the development, the policeman trailed Seun Kuti to his Akin Osiyemi residence off Allen Avenue, Ikeja.
The source said, “The policeman was alone, and after the altercation, he followed Seun Kuti to his home in Ikeja, and the musician apologised to the policeman and gave him N12,000 to repair his damaged vehicle.”
Responding to an inquiry concerning the apology and monetary tip, in a telephone interview with our correspondent on Monday, the Police Public Relations Officer, Hundeyin, confirmed the apology and the N12,000 offer by Seun Kuti.
Hundeyin said, “Although investigation is still ongoing, your correspondence is correct. Seun Kuti apologised to the officer on Saturday and gave him N12,000 to repair his damaged vehicle after the officer followed him to his house in Ikeja after the altercation.
“Fortunately, the policeman had earlier reported the incident at the Area F Police Command, and deposited the N12,000 with the command, before the video of the assault went viral on social media.”
As condemnation trailed the assault video on social media, the Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, ordered Seun Kuti’s arrest.
Also, the Police Service Commission, on Sunday, issued a strong statement, demanding the prosecution of the musician to serve as a deterrent to others who may want to toe the same path.
Meanwhile, Olumide-Fusika, who accompanied Seun to the police station, critised the police for allegedly subjecting his client to a media trial.
Olumide-Fusika complained that “Mr Seun Kuti was handcuffed and his photograph taken in the open by the Lagos PPRO, Mr Benjamin Hundeyin, who coordinated the parade and apparently shared the photograph of his parade in the media.
“Mr Kuti is presumed innocent until the contrary is proved by the state. Therefore, the decision of the police to subject him to the media parade violates Section 9 of the Lagos State Administration of Criminal Justice Law, which has prohibited any form of parade of criminal suspects in Nigeria in Lagos State.
“The police are supposed to enforce the law but prefer to disrespect and break it so casually and randomly. A police institution that has no respect for the law it exists to enforce is not a good example to alleged lawbreakers.
“The decision of the police to handcuff Mr. Kuti is equally illegal as it constitutes a violation of Section 5 of the Administration of Criminal Justice Law.
“After handcuffing him, the police then drove him in a long convoy of heavily-armed personnel from Ikeja to Panti Lagos, where he was again displayed for viewing to the men and officers of that police formation, and is currently held.
“We await the next move of the police on the misdemeanor alleged against Mr Seun Kuti.”
BAIL REJECTED!
Meanwhile, the police at the Lagos State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Panti have refused to grant Seun Kuti bail after their futile attempt to trick him into writing a statement that would implicate him in the case of an alleged assault on a police officer.
SaharaReporters learnt that his lawyer, Adeyinka Olunide-Fusika, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, asked the police to grant the musician bail but the request was rejected under the pretext that they were yet to conclude with their investigation.
Seun Kuti, son of Afrobeat legend, Fela Kuti was on Monday arrested and handcuffed following his visit to the state police command.
had also reported that the police turned Seun’s visit in company with his lawyer, Olumide-Fusika, into a public spectacle, with hundreds of officers taunting and mocking him as he walked by.
had also reported that the police turned Seun’s visit in company with his lawyer, Olumide-Fusika, into a public spectacle, with hundreds of officers taunting and mocking him as he walked by.
Meanwhile, the police commissioner, Owohunwa, was conveniently absent for a large part while this went on.
A source had told SaharaReporters that a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Femi Falana, one of the lawyers defending Seun had to call the police commissioner to complain about the unruly behaviour of the officers, treatment of his client and prevention of Olumide-Fusika from being present during the musician’s interrogation.
It was learnt that a cameraman was on hand to take pictures as soon as Seun was handcuffed behind his back while scores of officers continued to mock and threaten him.
Meanwhile, police sources at Panti told SaharaReporters on Monday night that the policemen at the facility continued to be hostile to Seun, his lawyers and his family members.
They reportedly chased his wife away from the police station when she brought him food after calling her all sorts of names and threatening to arrest her as an accomplice.
Seun, SaharaReporters learnt, had refused to make any written statements when the police promised him bail if he would admit to “being provoked” to assault the police officer in question.
“The police at SCIID unsuccessfully tried to trick him to write a statement that would implicate him in the alleged assault on a police officer on Sunday in Lagos. He didn’t budge at all.
“His counsel, Adeyinka Olunide-Fusika, a senior lawyer, talked to the police to grant him bail but they rejected the request and claimed that they were yet to conclude their investigation,” one of the sources told SaharaReporters on Monday night.
Meanwhile, Seun has debunked reports that he gave the policeman in question money to fix his car after the ‘assaulted’ police officer trailed him home.
Some reports and the spokesperson for the state police command, Benjamin Hundeyin earlier claimed that Seun had apologised and given the sum of ₦12,000 to the ‘assaulted’ officer to repair his damaged vehicle.
But Seun’s management said the police officer followed him home and apologised to him after which they parted ways amicably.
The police however called the officer to write a statement after the video of the incident appeared online.
The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, had ordered Seun’s arrest after a video of the musician assaulting a policeman surfaced online.
In the viral video, Seun is seen involved in a heated argument with the officer standing in the middle of a busy road.
Meanwhile, reacting via his Instastory on Saturday, Kuti said the officer attempted to kill him and his family members.
He added that the policeman had apologised and had been forgiven.
Kuti wrote, “He tried to kill me and my family. I have the proof but I no dey chase clout. He has apologised and I have agreed not to press charges. Make una mind una business make the poor guy no lose his job.”
Seun also said he would give the police full cooperation to determine who is wrong.
“I welcome the investigation and will give my full cooperation! I also pray to the IG that whoever is wrong should be indicted,” the musician said in a second Instastory.
SEUN KUTI’S response:
Confiding in a sympathetic police officer, he said: “For inside the State Criminal Investigation Department ( Panti), Yaba, Lagos State today, police officers there dey humiliate me, disgrace me, abuse me; come dey threaten me on top of am. Dem dey use many bad words against me. My wife wey bring food again, come for me, make i chop, dem chase am away, come dey tell am say if she show face for Panti again, dem go arrest am. I get my own video recording evidence”.
*Additional reports by The PUNCH Newspaper & Sahara Reporters
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