Nigerian Police Ask Court For 21 Days to Detain Seun Kuti, Claim ‘Assaulted’ Policeman is in Coma at Undisclosed Hospital

The Nigeria Police Force, Lagos State command has requested a remand order from the court to detain Seun Kuti, an Afrobeat musician, for 21 days. This comes after he was secretly arraigned at the Yaba Magistrate Court without notifying his lawyers.

The police prosecutors claimed in court that the assaulted policeman was in a coma and receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital. Currently, the court is on recess as the Chief Magistrate, Mrs Adeola Olatunbosun, stated that she is studying the file.

According to reports, a witness at the court revealed that the Chief Magistrate took a statement from the police, applying to detain Seun Kuti for 21 days, citing the alleged assault on a policeman who is reportedly in a coma.

However, Seun Kuti’s lawyer, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, countered the police’s claims, stating that they had publicly acknowledged that the police officer had trailed Seun to his house and accepted money for car repairs.

It also emerged that the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) in Panti had met with the Magistrate before secretly bringing Seun to court without notifying his lawyer.

The police accused Seun of not providing a statement, but Olumide-Fusika countered that he was present when Seun provided a statement. In response, the Chief Magistrate decided to go on recess to study the file.

The Magistrate Court began sitting at 12 pm, but Seun Kuti and his lawyers were already present in court, having learned of the secret arraignment.

Seun Kuti had informed the police personnel in Yaba that he would not volunteer any statement since the Lagos State Police Public Relations Officer had already concluded his investigation and published a report in the media. Through his lawyer, Seun Kuti stated that he would defend himself against the published “investigative findings” at the appropriate time and place.

The police at the Lagos State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Panti, refused to grant Seun Kuti bail after attempting to coerce him into writing a statement that would implicate him in the alleged assault case.

His lawyer had requested bail, but the police rejected the request, claiming that their investigation was not yet concluded.

Seun Kuti, the son of Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti, was arrested and handcuffed on Monday following his visit to the state police command.

He had previously promised to cooperate with the police by turning himself in to assist with the investigation into the allegation of assaulting a policeman, as shown in a viral video.

However, upon his visit, he was arrested, handcuffed, and taken to the SCIID, Panti, for interrogation. During his visit, hundreds of officers reportedly taunted and mocked him as he walked by, turning the event into a public spectacle.