Court dismisses application for Seun Kuti’s arraignment
Court dismisses application for Seun Kuti’s arraignment
Yaba magistrate’s court in Lagos has dismissed an application filed by the police for the arraignment of Seun Kuti, the Afrobeat singer.
The music star was released to his family on Tuesday evening after spending eight days in police custody.
Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, the singer’s counsel, confirmed he was released after meeting his bail conditions.
During sitting on Wednesday, the police prayed to the court to grant them permission to further arraign Seun.
Cyril Ejiofor, the prosecuting counsel, told the court that the police had prepared charges against the singer.
But Femi Falana, Seun’s representative, asked the court to dismiss the application.
He argued that the request of the police amounts to contempt of court.
Seun’s legal team also held that the police violated the court order of May 16. The court had asked the police to duplicate the case file and transmit the same to the directorate of public prosecutions (DPP) within 72 hours.
They also prayed to the court to allow the DPP to prosecute the case instead of the police.
In her ruling, Adeola Olatubosun, the chief magistrate, held that she needed the DPP’s advice before proceeding with the case.
She then adjourned the case until July 3 for mention.
Seun was apprehended on May 15 after he was filmed assaulting a police officer on the Third Mainland Bridge.
He was detained at the state criminal investigation Department (SCID) and arraigned before the magistrate’s court on May 16.
The police had sought to get an order to further keep him in custody for 21 days pending the conclusion of its investigation.
But the chief magistrate directed the police to detain the musician for additional 48 hours and then release him on bail.
Olatubuson later extended Seun’s remand for additional four days to enable the police to continue with its investigation.
