The Chief Magistrate Court in Yaba, Lagos, has granted bail to Afrobeat musician Seun Kuti.
The court has also ordered the Nigerian police to complete their investigation into the alleged assault of a policeman within 48 hours and allow Kuti to return home.
According to a SaharaReporters report, Kuti’s bail requires two sureties who must possess landed property in Lagos.
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Additionally, the Chief Magistrate has directed the police to remove themselves from prosecuting the case. The case file will be duplicated and forwarded to the Lagos State Directorate of Public Prosecutions for prosecution.
Previously, police prosecutors claimed in the Magistrate Court that the assaulted policeman was in a coma and receiving treatment at an undisclosed hospital, seeking a 21-day mention order against Seun Kuti.
During the court proceedings, Kuti’s lawyer, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika, countered the police’s claims, stating that the police officer had trailed Kuti to his house and accepted payment for car repairs.
It was also revealed that the Deputy Commissioner of Police in Panti had met with the Magistrate earlier and secretly moved Kuti to court without notifying his lawyer.
The Magistrate Court began its session at 12 pm, but Kuti and his lawyers were already present, having learned about the secret arraignment.
In a previous interaction with the police personnel in Yaba, Kuti stated that he would not volunteer any statement, as the Police Public Relations Officer had already concluded the investigation and published the findings in the media.
Kuti’s lawyer, Olumide-Fusika, stated that at the appropriate time and place, Kuti will defend himself against the published investigative findings by the Police Public Relations Officer.
Seun Kuti, the son of Afrobeat legend Fela Kuti, was arrested and handcuffed on Monday after visiting the state police command.
He had voluntarily turned himself in to cooperate with the investigation into the allegation that he assaulted a policeman, as shown in a viral video. He was subsequently taken to SCIID, Panti, for further questioning.