Yesterday, at the Sabo-Yaba Chief Magistrate’s Court in Lagos, a ruling was made by Chief Magistrate Adeola Olatubosun to extend afrobeat singer Seun Kuti’s detention in police custody for an additional four days. This decision came as a result of an ex-parte motion filed by the police, requesting an extension of Seun’s remand order at the State Criminal Investigation Department (SCID) in Yaba, Lagos. The purpose of the extension is to allow the police to conduct further investigations into the alleged assault on a police officer that took place on the Third Mainland Bridge in Lagos.
A team of prosecution counsel, including 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, led the legal proceedings.
During the court proceedings, Simon Lough informed the court that the motion had been filed and supported by a written address. He further explained that the 12-paragraph affidavit accompanying the motion was sworn by Saheed Kassim, an Investigating Police Officer (IPO) from the State Criminal Investigation Department in Yaba, Lagos.
The application was made in accordance with Sections 264(1) (2), (3), (4) & (6) and 257 of the 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).
Lough stated, “It is our humble submission that based on the facts, nature, and circumstances of this case, the applicant is entitled to the relief sought from this honorable court in the interest of justice, public order, and morality.”
In response, Femi Akinyemi, standing in for Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN), the defendant’s counsel, requested a stand down of the matter. However, Chief Magistrate Olatubosun denied the request and granted the prosecution’s prayer for an extension of the remand order.
The magistrate ordered that the defendant remain in police custody for an additional four days, while duplicating the case file to be sent to the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP). The case was adjourned until May 23, 2023.
Seun Kuti, dressed in a wine-colored shirt and blue jeans, arrived at the court accompanied by mobile police officers around 12:58 p.m. At 1:11 p.m., he was taken away in a police White Hilux Van with a covered license plate, seated in the back surrounded by police officers.
