A Lagos court granted a four-day extension of remand for Seun Kuti, the afrobeat singer, until May 22.
Simon Lough led the police legal team and made the application. He said the extension was for further investigation. Seun Kuti assaulted a police officer by slapping an inspector after dangerous driving on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos. He blocked a police vehicle and was charged on May 13, 2023. The chief magistrate ordered his remand for 48 hours after he was arraigned on May 16. She granted the defendant bail for N1 million with two sureties, one of whom was a local landlord. The case will be mentioned on May 22, 2023, and the prosecutor was ordered to duplicate the case file for the state director of public prosecutions.
Nigerian police ask Seun Kuti’s defence to stop the media trial and let the judicial process proceed, while Seun’s lawyer disputes the police’s media trial claims. The defence team requests a legal evaluation and possible prosecution by the Director of Public Prosecution. Olumide-Fusika is critical of the ongoing detention of the singer and disagrees with the appeal to his defence team to avoid defending him in the media. The lawyer believes the judicial process should be allowed to continue without interference.
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His photo, fingerprints, name, and address were taken by the law. Misrepresentations are being spread on social media to get sympathy and distract from the issue. No law stops police from using handcuffs to restrain suspects, even if they are violent. Seun Kuti has displayed violence by attacking a police officer for threatening his wife. Lagos State law permits taking photos of suspects for identification and records.
You know who you advised, so you should have privately contacted them instead of tweeting to everyone about avoiding media trials. It is understandable, given your position as a Deputy Commissioner of Police, to follow orders. As a senior advocate in Nigeria, it’s important to consider the ethical implications of your actions in court. Mr Kuti was granted bail on May 16, 2023, not at the request of the police but due to an oral application by his legal team. The police had attempted to extend his detention by 21 days in an ex-parte hearing. “You should have realized that any bail term variation application, including the 48-hour release condition, cannot be done ex parte. As a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, you must not participate in schemes that undermine the rule of law and court administration.” says Mr. Simon Lough
Kuti won’t comment further. When will he be charged for assaulting a police officer?” Seun Kuti is waiting for his court hearing to defend himself.
