The son of Fela Anikulapo Kuti , frobeat musician, Seun Kuti, has been arrested and is currently being detained at the State Criminal Investigation Department, popularly known as Panti, in Lagos State, over an alleged assault on a police officer on Saturday.
The musician was accompanied by a lawyer representing Falana and Falana Chambers, the law firm of popular human rights activist, Femi Falana, SAN. Our correspondent exclusively obtained a video clip and pictures showing the musician in handcuffs while being paraded by police officers at the SCID, Lagos. The Ancestral News had reported that a viral video of Seun Kuti assaulting a police officer on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos State emerged on Saturday.
The Inspector-General of Police, Usman Baba, as a result, ordered the arrest of the singer. The IG equally ordered a speedy and full investigation into the remote and immediate cause(s) of the alleged assault and prosecution of the suspect accordingly. This was as the musician alleged attempted murder of himself and his family by the police officer in question, in a social media post obtained by our correspondent on Saturday night.
However, following the IG’s order for his arrest, Mr. Kuti in another Instagram post, said, “I welcome the investigation and will give my full cooperation! I also pray to the IG that whoever is wrong should be indicted.” This was as the Police Service Commission demands the immediate prosecution of the musician, adding that no one has the right to assault a policeman in uniform and on official duty, no matter the offence committed by the police officer.
Following the development, Falana, SAN, said the musician had sought his legal services, adding that Seun Kuti has evidence to defend his action. Falana said, “I am his lawyer and he has briefed me. He certainly has evidence. This is not the first time he is dealing with the police.
“He (Seun) is going to report himself to the police tomorrow morning. There is no problem at all.”
Musician risks three years imprisonment
According to section 356 of the Nigerian Criminal Code Act, if found guilty of assault against the yet-to-be-named police officer, Ṣeun Kuti is liable to spend three years in prison. The Act reads,“ Anyone who assaults, resists, or willfully obstructs a police officer while acting in the execution of his duty, or any person acting in aid of a police officer while so acting is guilty of felony and is liable to imprisonment for three years.”
Ancestrals reports that Kuti in a 12-second video clip which went viral on Saturday showed Kuti, who wore a red shirt and white pair of trousers, 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 Police Service Commission has demanded the immediate prosecution of Afrobeat musician, Seun Kuti, over alleged assault on a police officer on the Third Mainland bridge in Lagos State on Saturday.
The PSC Chairman, Dr. Solomon Arase, a retired Inspector-General of Police, said Seun’s arraignment would serve as a deterrent to other citizens, adding that no one has the right to assault a policeman in uniform and on official duty, no matter the offence committed by a police officer
