On Tuesday, the Sabo-Yaba Chief Magistrates’ Court, Lagos State, ordered the remand of afrobeat singer Seun Kuti for alleged assault on a police officer on the Third Mainland Bridge, Lagos.
The chief magistrate, Adeola Olatubosun, held that Mr Kuti should be remanded for 48 hours in police custody.
She, however, held that the defendant should be admitted to N1 million bail with two sureties in like sum at the end of the 48-hour remand.
Olatunbosun said one of the sureties must be a landlord within the court’s jurisdiction.
She adjourned the case until May 22 for mention.
The magistrate directed the prosecutor to duplicate the case file and forward a copy to the state director of public prosecutions for advice.
The investigating police officer, Lekan Ogundare, told the court that the defendant committed the offence on May 13 on the Third Mainland Bridge.
He said the defendant drove dangerously on the bridge and deliberately blocked a moving police vehicle.
He alleged that the defendant grabbed Insp Mohammed Aminu, attached to the Police Training College, Ikeja, while on official movement and in police uniform.
Ogundare said the defendant slapped Mr Aminu several times on his face.
A legal officer of the police, S. A. Adebeshin, applied to the court to give the police 21 days to conduct further investigation on the case.
A 12-paragraph affidavit supported his application.
Adeyinka Olumide-Fusika (SAN) and counsel to the defendant said he was unaware of the application for the defendant’s remand.
He requested time to respond to the application.
Reacting, M. A. Animashaun, a member of the police legal team, submitted that there should be temporary deprivation of liberty of the defendant for investigation purposes.
He said that Mr Kuti’s alleged victim had been on medical treatment.
However, Mr Olumide-Fusika said Mr Kuti handed himself over to the police and should not be remanded on such grounds.
He prayed the court grant Mr Kuti bail, promising the defendant would show up whenever needed.
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