Emmanuel Thomas, Friday, May 19, 2023
YABA, Lagos, Nigeria – The problem of the afrobeat singer, Seun Kuti seems to be multiplying on a daily basis following the decision of another magistrate to remand him in police custody for four days to create more time for a thorough police investigation.
Magistrate Adeola Olatubosun of a Magistrates Court sitting in Sabo-Yaba granted the prayers of the Nigeria Police Force to remand the afrobeat singer, Seun Kuti for four days, following a viral video in which Seun Kuti shoved and slapped a very humble police officer.
This is the second time that Seun Kuti is being arraigned for the same offence. He had previously been arraigned and remanded in police custody for 48 hours to allow for police investigation, following prayers by Police Prosecutor, Benjamin Hundeyin to remand the musician for 21 days.
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However, Adeola Olatubosun granted the order following a motion ex-parte brought by the police seeking for an order of the court to remand the defendant in police custody for four days at the State Criminal Investigation Department, (SCID), Yaba Lagos, to enable the police carry out further investigation.
The team of prosecution counsel led by DCP, Simon Lough (SAN), Yetunde Cardoso, P.A. Egbunike, Umar Bello, Cyril Ajifor, Mr. Moruf Animashaun, Ayodele Oladiran, S.A Adebesin, Emmanuel Eze, V.I Ekperezie and Idowu Osungbure told court that they filed motion ex-parte supported by 12 paragraphs affidavit with one exhibits attached to it.
Lough (SAN) told court that the motion was supported with written address, added that the 12 paragraphs affidavit was deposed to by one ACP Saheed Kassim, one of the Investigating Police Officer (IPO) attached to State Criminal Investigation Department, Yaba Lagos.
The application is brought pursuant to Sections 264(1) (2),(3),(4) & (6) & 257 of Administration of Criminal Justice Law of Lagos State, 2021 (As Amended), Sections 4 & 10 of the Police Act, 2020 and Sections 6(6), 35(1)(C), (5) & (7)(9) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (As Amended).
The learned silk said, “it is our humble submission that from the facts, nature and circumstance of this case, the applicant is entitle to the relief sought from this honourable court in the interest of justice, public order and morality.
Responding to prosecution team submission, Mr. Femi Akinyemi counsel who held brief of Mr. Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika who prayed the court to stand down the matter.
But Chief Magistrate Olatubosun refused the prayer of the defendant counsel for stand down. She therefore granted prosecution prayer for extension of remand order.
She therefore ordered that the defendant be further remanded in police custody for four days. She said the filed be duplicate to the DPP and subsequently adjourned to May 23, 2023.
