…awaits DPP’s legal advice as case adjourns to July 3
A Chief Magistrate in Lagos has dismissed an application by the Nigeria police force seeking to arraign Afro-beats singer, Seun Kuti, for an alleged assault of a police officer.
On Wednesday, Magistrate Adeola Olatunbosun dismissed the application as well as adjourn the hearing to July 3 to await a legal advice from the office of the Directorate of Public Prosecutions on the matter.
Seun Kuti was released on bail on Tuesday. He had been in detention at the state criminal investigative department Panti since last Monday.
His lawyer Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN) confirmed that he was released around 7.30 pm Tuesday. According to him, the singer was released to his family after meeting his bail conditions.
At the resumed hearing, police counsel Cyril Ejiofor had sought the leave of court to arraign the singer, having prepared a charge against him.
But senior advocate of Nigeria, Femi Falana representing the defendant urged the court to dismiss the application, maintaining that such actions of the police amounts to a contempt of court.
Last week, the same court had delivered two rulings ordering the police to duplicate the case file and forward it to the Office of the DPP at the Lagos ministry of Justice for an advice on whether to prosecute the case.
The court had also ruled that the police cannot investigate and prosecute the matter.
But the police counsel urged the court to dismiss the objection saying that section 23 of the police Act empowers them to prosecute cases, and that the Nigeria police cannot wait for the state government, having already sent the case file to them
In her ruling, the magistrate said she would stand by her previous orders to await the DPP’s advice.
In his appreciation for his release, the Afrobeat musician said;
“I be orphan o but family deeeey!! @femiakuti @madekuti @yeniakuti @mopcentre @funkekut and Lande Ransome-Kuti,” read the caption of a photo of his elder brother Femi Kuti and nephew Made.
He added, “All my friends that showed up! Thanks most especially to my beautiful wife @chefyeidekuti.”
The son of the late Afrobeat icon Fela also showed his gratitude his legal team, including “Uncle Femi Falana (SAN) Uncle Olumide Fisika (SAN) Uncle Kayode Adegoke (SAN) Barrister Ogunlana. Ade Ademiluyi. @mantis_afrikaanus.”
“I owe u my freedom and my Sanity,” he said in the post.
Kuti, in yet another appreciation post on Wednesday, described his release as a birthday gift to his elder sister, Yeni, who turns 62 today.
“My freedom is your birthday day gift u said so Happy birthday Big Sis. You are an extra ordinary force for good in this world and we are more than happy to have u in fact we are lucky!! @yeniakuti,” he said.
The artist had turned himself in to the Lagos State Police Command on May 15 for investigation of his assault on a policeman captured in a now viral video.
