Police officers on Tuesday searched the Lagos residence of
Seun Kuti — barely hours after the Afrobeat singer’s arraignment.
Kuti was arrested on Monday and detained at the state
criminal investigation Department (SCID) popularly known as Panti.
Seun’s arrest came after he was filmed assaulting a police
officer on the Third Mainland Bridge.
A short video clip went viral on Saturday showing Kuti, who
wore a red shirt and white pair of trousers, pushing the policeman, who stood
beside a Toyota Hilux police van.
The singer then proceeded to slap the officer while
shouting, “You dey crase, you dey mad?”
The footage stirred a chorus of condemnation on social media
with users expressing disappointment at Kuti’s actions.
The 40-year-old singer and youngest son of Fela Kuti, the late
Afrobeat legend alleged in a tweet that the officer had tried to harm him and
his family.
He, however, did not provide details about the alleged plot.
The musician was arraigned before the magistrate court in
Yaba.
The police had sought to get an order to further keep him in
custody for 21 days pending the conclusion of its investigation.
Adeola Olatunbosun, the chief magistrate, however, directed
the police to detain Seun for additional 48 hours and then release him on bail.
The magistrate also adjourned the case till May 22, 2023,
for mention.
VIDEO: Policemen Storm Seun Kuti’s House
An eyewitness on Tuesday who pleaded anonymity told our correspondent how officers of the Lagos State Police Command stormed the Akin Osiyemi residence of Afrobeat musician, Seun Kuti, off Allen Avenue, Ikeja, for a search, while also… pic.twitter.com/lPKTbjpift
— Bishop (LP) (@BishopPOEvang) May 16, 2023
In a now-viral
video, heavy-duty vehicles were spotted entering the
singer’s residence located around Allen Avenue, Ikeja on Tuesday evening.
The police officers also took the musician along during the
search.
Responding to a post by
a Twitter user who tackled the officers for searching Kuti’s house, Benjamin
Hundeyin, Lagos police spokesperson, said the agency “stumbled on certain
suspicious things that have warranted the search”.
“The harrassment of Seun Kuti’s family by ransacking their
home & seizing his wife’s phone is wrong. You’re making people who were
sympathetic to the police because Seun Kuti’s behaviour was despicable to
remember why they hated the police before. This is bad PR for the police,” the
user wrote.
In the course of our investigation, we stumbled on certain suspicious things that needed to be proven/disproved beyond reasonable doubt.
We, therefore, applied for and duly got a search warrant from the court, which we have executed. Investigation continues.
— SP Benjamin Hundeyin (@BenHundeyin) May 17, 2023
“In the course of our investigation, we stumbled on certain
suspicious things that needed to be proven/disproved beyond reasonable doubt.
We, therefore, applied for and duly got a search warrant from the court, which
we have executed. Investigation continues,” Benjamin responded.
According to Nigerian laws, Kuti could face up to three years in prison if
convicted of assaulting a police officer.
