Alleged Assault : Police Refuse Seun Kuti Administrative Bail, Drive Wife Away, Threaten To Arrest Her For Bringing Him Food

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The police at the Lagos State Criminal Investigation and Intelligence Department, Panti has refused to grant Seun Kuti bail after their futile attempt to trick him into writing a statement that would implicate him in the case of an alleged assault on a police officer.

His lawyer, Adeyinka Olunide-Fusika, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, had asked the police to grant the musician bail but the request was rejected under the pretext that they were yet to conclude with their investigation.

Seun Kuti, son of Afrobeat legend, Fela Kuti was on Monday arrested and handcuffed following his visit to the state police command.

The media earlier reported that the musician kept his word that he would cooperate with the police by turning himself in on Monday to cooperate with the investigation into the allegation that he assaulted a policeman as captured in a viral video.

He was however arrested, handcuffed by the police and moved to SCIID, Panti for interrogation.

The media had also reported that the police turned Seun’s visit in company with his lawyer, Olumide-Fusika, into a public spectacle, with hundreds of officers taunting and mocking him as he walked by.

Meanwhile, the police commissioner, Owohunwa, was conveniently absent for a large part while this went on.

A source had told newsmen that a Senior Advocate of Nigeria, Mr Femi Falana, one of the lawyers defending Seun had to call the police commissioner to complain about the unruly behaviour of the officers, treatment of his client and prevention of Olumide-Fusika from being present during the musician’s interrogation.

It was learnt that a cameraman was on hand to take pictures as soon as Seun was handcuffed behind his back while scores of officers continued to mock and threaten him.

Meanwhile, police sources at Panti disclosed on Monday night that the policemen at the facility continued to be hostile to Seun, his lawyers and his family members.

They reportedly chased his wife away from the police station when she brought him food after calling her all sorts of names and threatening to arrest her as an accomplice.

Seun, it was learnt, had refused to make any written statements when the police promised him bail if he would admit to “being provoked” to assault the police officer in question.

“The police at SCIID unsuccessfully tried to trick him to write a statement that would implicate him in the alleged assault on a police officer on Sunday in Lagos. He didn’t budge at all.

“His counsel, Adeyinka Olunide-Fusika, a senior lawyer, talked to the police to grant him bail but they rejected the request and claimed that they were yet to conclude their investigation,” one of the sources said on Monday night.

Meanwhile, Seun has debunked reports that he gave the policeman in question money to fix his car after the ‘assaulted’ police officer trailed him home.

Some reports and the spokesperson for the state police command, Benjamin Hundeyin earlier claimed that Seun had apologised and given the sum of ₦‎12,000 to the ‘assaulted’ officer to repair his damaged vehicle.

But Seun’s management said the police officer followed him home and apologised to him after which they parted ways amicably.

The police however called the officer to write a statement after the video of the incident appeared online.

The Inspector-General of Police, IGP Usman Alkali Baba, had ordered Seun’s arrest after a video of the musician assaulting a policeman surfaced online.

In the viral video, Seun is seen involved in a heated argument with the officer standing in the middle of a busy road.

Meanwhile, reacting via his Instastory on Saturday, Kuti said the officer attempted to kill him and his family members.

He added that the policeman had apologised and had been forgiven.

Kuti wrote, “He tried to kill me and my family. I have the proof but I no dey chase clout. He has apologised and I have agreed not to press charges. Make una mind una business make the poor guy no lose him job.”

Seun also said he would give the police full cooperation to determine who is wrong.

“I welcome the investigation and will give my full cooperation! I also pray to the IG that whoever is wrong should be indicted,” the musician said in a second Instastory.