BREAKING: Detained Popular Nigerian Musician, Seun Kuti Finally Released
Lawyers to the Afrobeat musician, Seun Kuti, have said that the musician may be released on bail from detention on Tuesday (today) as ordered by the Chief Magistrate, having fulfilled his bail terms.
The lawyers, Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN) and Kunle Adegoke (SAN) in a statement on Tuesday said that Seun’s release was only waiting for administrative approval, adding that the process had nothing to do with whether or not the court had a physical sitting.
Naija News House earlier reported that the Chief Magistrates Court in Yaba, Lagos State, presided over by Adeola Olatubosun, adjourned Seun’s trial to Wednesday as the magistrate absented herself from the court.
Explaining why the case was adjourned, Seun’s lawyers said the purpose of Tuesday’s sitting was to receive the Lagos State Director of Public Prosecutions’ (DPP) advice.
According to the legal team, “The Court, as you will recall, had ordered that the prosecution of the case must be by the DPP’s office and not by the Police, hence the Police was also ordered to send the case file to the DPP for evaluation and decision as to prosecution.
“The court was therefore to sit today to receive the DPP’s advice, but did not because, as we’re informed, the Magistrate is attending a training course. However, the Advice of the DPP is not ready as the police investigation team is still holding on to the case file.
“Nevertheless, the release of Mr. Kuti on bail, as ordered by the Magistrate, is only waiting for administrative approval. That process has nothing to do with whether or not the court has a physical sitting. We are hopeful that Mr. Kuti will be out today on the bail granted him, having fulfilled the terms.”
Naija News House on Monday reported that the Nigeria Police Force, Lagos State command, was plotting to ensure that Kuti was taken to the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, Ogun State, to certify that he was “mentally sick.”
Naija News House earlier reported that Kuti refused to give out his blood samples to the police for medical examination after the command got the magistrate to amend her ruling and do their bidding.
“The police are trying to take the Afrobeat musician to the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta, Ogun State to declare him mentally sick. You can imagine what that can cause his musical career in Nigeria and abroad,” a source said on Monday.
Chief Magistrate Adeola Olatubosun had granted the police’s application for an extension of Seun Kuti’s remand for an additional four days.
On May 13, Seun was charged with assaulting a police officer on Lagos State’s Third Mainland Bridge.
